CHICAGO – The Illinois Racing Board during a regular monthly meeting Tuesday voted 7-0 to create a committee to help formulate rules that would govern the implementation of historical horse racing machines at Hawthorne Racecourse near Chicago and Fairmount Park near St. Louis. The two tracks had sought to directly begin the rule-making process with the IRB, which will be charged with forming the framework that would govern historical racing, but the Board decided to add another layer to the process by forming a committee – whose members have yet to be appointed – that will report to IRB staff. The issue is then expected to be addressed again at the IRB’s July meeting. Historical horse racing machines first were introduced at Oaklawn Park in 2000 and helped raise purses there to record levels. The machines randomly generate a past race upon which bets are taken. Handicapping information is provided, and video of the race is shown after bets are placed, but bettors also can skip those steps and proceed directly to results after a bet is placed. The machines also are legal in Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming, but outside Oaklawn are best-known for funding astronomical purses at Kentucky Downs. Ellis Park in western Kentucky also operates the machines. Historical racing machines were ruled legal in Kentucky because they were judged to be a pari-mutuel contest no different from wagering on live races. The pari-mutuel distinction is key in Illinois because racetracks are not permitted to conduct any form of gambling beyond pari-mutuel wagering on racing, and Hawthorne and Fairmount have modeled their proposal after Kentucky’s. The IRB’s general counsel, Michael Pieczonka, made remarks at the Tuesday meeting implying he believed historical racing wouldn’t be judged legal in Illinois. Hawthorne and Fairmount want the effort to go forward anyway. Hawthorne president Tim Carey said Illinois tracks have waited 20 years for gambling expansion to pass the Illinois legislature and be signed into law. Purses at Illinois tracks are generated this year nearly entirely from handle (and in most years entirely so) and struggle to compete with neighboring states that generate purse money from attached casinos. Fairmount’s fortunes have fallen so far that the track has warned it might be forced to prematurely end its race meet in July. “What makes us think the 21st year is going to be the answer? We believe this is pari-mutuel in nature and we’re asking the racing board to take up the issue,” said Carey. Carey said if given approval to proceed, Hawthorne would immediately move forward and could have machines ready for operation in about 60 days. Since the machines would be treated no differently than self-service betting terminals, the number installed would be tied strictly to demand. The splits of the betting revenue between the track, horsemen, and the state, Carey said, would follow existing law governing live pari-mutuel betting. Carey estimated the historical racing machines could generate between $40 million and $60 million annually. On Wednesday, Arlington Park's general manager Tony Petrillo said Arlington doesn’t support bringing historical racing machines to Illinois tracks. “We don’t believe that’s a solution to the long-term viability and sustainability of racing in Illinois,” Petrillo said. “We’re in favor of focusing all efforts on slots and table games at the racetrack.” Petrillo said a push for historical racing could impede efforts to pass legislation that would allow tracks to operate casinos, and that Arlington would make its position on the matter known to the IRB committee. The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association wouldn’t oppose implementing the machines, provided the revenue splits are acceptable.