“The whole issue is we’ve been waiting for years for the renovations at Hawthorne and a second track. “We’ve been in conversation with Senator Cunningham and it was suggested that we go after the 35-mile rule and that’s what we did,” said Marty Engel, president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association (IHHA). The proposed Richton Park racino falls within that boundary.

Village manager Regan Stockstell issued a statement that said the village “is supportive” and “the racino presents a meaningful economic development opportunity the south suburbs that should be allowed to proceed.”īut there is a statutory roadblock: Hawthorne’s right to veto construction of any competing racino within 35 miles of the racetrack. Greenway’s plans to build the combination harness track and casino on an 80-acre Richton Park site adjacent to Interstate Highway 57 became public during an Illinois Senate executive committee hearing on March 23.ĭaniels also has notified the Illinois Gaming Board that it has the site under contract, has made initial design and engineering plans for a $300 million development and has had several meetings with elected officials of Richton Park.

Real estate developer Drew Daniels is a managing member of the group known as Greenway Entertainment Group and another member is Roy Arnold, one-time president of Arlington International Racecourse and currently chief executive officer of Endeavor Hotel Group. A group of investors wants to build a racino south of the city, some 25 miles fromĪ group of wealthy investors, the south suburban Chicago village of Richton Park and state senator Bill Cunningham are trying to extend a lifeline to the Illinois harness owners, trainers, drivers and breeders who are struggling for survival because of Hawthorne Race Course’s stalled racino project.

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