COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Another season of thoroughbred racing is beginning at Fairmount Park in southwestern Illinois, where racetrack officials hope a change in the governor’s office may bring an expansion of gambling. Fairmount opens its 90th season Tuesday. Fairmount Park President Brian Zander tells the Belleville News-Democrat that adding slot machines at horse tracks would mean more revenue and bigger purses. Zander says Illinois tracks are competing with tracks in other states that do offer slot machines. Lanny Brooks of the Illinois Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association says Gov. Bruce Rauner may be friendlier toward a gambling expansion than former Gov. Pat Quinn was. Quinn vetoed measures adding more casinos and slots over concerns about ethical safeguards. Rauner has said gambling decisions should be made in consultation with local communities.

Leave a Reply