Arlington, horsemen agree to race-meet contract

Arlington International Racecourse and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association signed a contract late Monday stipulating the manner in which Arlington’s 2015 race meet, which begins May 1, will be conducted.

A two-year contract between the track and the horsemen’s group expired after the 2014 season, and the two sides appeared to be locked in a conflict that might have threatened the start of the racing season, as had been the case in 2013. But any disruption to the start of this racing season apparently was averted when, with the help of a mediator, the two sides reached an agreement Monday.

“This is just a standard race-meet agreement that addresses the best interests of the horse owner,” said Arlington general manager Tony Petrillo.

Several key issues were resolved, including the manner in which the ITHA will be funded. The group was paid a flat fee from retained handle during the two-year contract covering 2013-14 but will be funded through a percentage of retained handle, as had been the case before the last contract.

“A lot of stumbling blocks were overcome,” said Glen Berman, executive director of the ITHA. “A lot of things went back and forth. Most, if not all, of those things were resolved.”