Arlington Park officials earlier in the month filed "a lawsuit against the Illinois Racing Board over losing 18 simulcast host days in early 2013, a loss the Daily Racing Form estimates will cost the track $1 million in revenue," according to Mike Spellman of the Illinois DAILY HERALD. The complaint "focuses on the IRB's decision to award those 18 days to Hawthorne Race Course instead of Arlington Park." The suit "contends the move was to make up for revenue Hawthorne is likely to lose because its signature spring race -- the Illinois Derby -- was not included in Churchill Downs' new points format setting the 36 key qualifying races leading up to the Kentucky Derby." The suit also contends that because Arlington Chair Richard Duchossois is the largest shareholder in Churchill Downs, t"he IRB decided to 'punish' Arlington Park by taking away the 18 dates" (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 11/29). In San Antonio, David Hendricks noted horse track owner Retama Development Corp. on Wednesday "approved a resolution to move toward the sale of the 240-acre Retama Park to a new owner" signaling the completion "of months of negotiations." The track's new owner will be Pinnacle Retama Partners, a "majority of which will be owned by a Las Vegas-owned casino company." The resolution will be "presented to the Texas Racing Commission meeting at its Dec. 18 meeting in Austin." RDC lawyer Marc Schnall said that the "racing commission's approval is not assured at this time" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/29).
