Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Illinois News & Notes

February 5, 2007

Equine Degree Available This Fall
The University of Kentucky in Lexington will offer undergraduate degrees in equine management beginning in the fall of 2007, the university announced on Monday.

The equine management degree program will have two tracks that will allow students to focus on horse and farm management or business and organizational management in the horse industry, the university announced. UK will become the fourth college in the country to offer degrees in equine management, joining the University of Arizona, the University of Louisville, and Midway College, also in Kentucky, which offers a program that focuses on riding skills.

UK has previously offered courses in equine management, but not a degree program. Equine groups in and near Lexington, had pressed UK to offer equine degrees.

"The equine industry is a major economic engine, not only for Kentucky, but worldwide," said Dan Rosenberg, the chief operating officer of Three Chimneys Farm and the executive-in-residence at UK's College of Agriculture. "It is imperative that we educate and properly prepare those who will lead the industry in the coming decade."

As part of the announcement, UK also said it would expand and renovate its Maine Chance Farm near Lexington. The project will cost $13 million, but the university has so far raised only $3 million.

Chilly Fillies
A total of 69 horses were scratched from Balmoral’s Saturday afternoon and evening programs due to horrifically chilly temperatures. Throughout most of Saturday the temperatures never rose about 10F degrees and at night the actual temperature was –5F degrees, but with the wind chill factor, it felt like a –22F degrees. Four races went postward with fields of only four horses, while another four races were made up of only five horses each.

A Fistfull of Dollars
Walking in the door to play the ponies could soon cost $1 more. As Cook County commissioners try to fill a $500 million deficit, a plan is being floated to impose a $1 county admission tax at off-track betting parlors. Commissioners Jerry Butler and Deborah Sims say the tax could reap $1.5 million a year.

"We're the only ones out here not charging an admission tax, so why not?" Butler said.

Illinois Racing Board spokesman Mickey Ezzo said Chicago charges OTB visitors $1 at its four parlors --one of which, at State & Lake, closed Sunday and is moving to River North. The plan would add the county fee to any city charge, and it calls for $2 OTB entry fees if a parlor opens in unincorporated Cook County.

New OTB for You & Me
The state's newest Off Track Betting facility opened Friday inside Fat Sam's Bar & Grill, 1225 E. 9th St., Lockport. It's the ninth Arlington Trackside OTB in Illinois and the fourth housed within an existing business. The 7,200 square foot OTB section in Fat Sam's seats 300, with more than 50 flat-screen TVs.

Timmy & Tony
Tim Tetrick & Tony Morgan won four races each on Saturday, Feb 3, at Dover.