§ 21

(a) Applications for organization licenses must be filed with the Board at a time and place prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Board. The Board shall examine the applications within 21 days after the date allowed for filing with respect to their conformity with this Act and such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Board. If any application does not comply with this Act or the rules and regulations prescribed by the Board, such application may be rejected and an organization license refused to the applicant, or the Board may, within 21 days of the receipt of such application, advise the applicant of the deficiencies of the application under the Act or the rules and regulations of the Board, and require the submittal of an amended application within a reasonable time determined by the Board; and upon submittal of the amended application by the applicant, the Board may consider the application consistent with the process described in subsection (e-5) of Section 20 of this Act. If it is found to be in compliance with this Act and the rules and regulations of the Board, the Board may then issue an organization license to such applicant. (b) The Board may exercise discretion in granting racing dates to qualified applicants different from those requested by the applicants in their applications. However, if all eligible applicants for organization licenses whose tracks are located within 100 miles of each other execute and submit to the Board a written agreement among such applicants as to the award of racing dates, including where applicable racing programs, for up to 3 consecutive years, then subject to annual review of each applicant's compliance with Board rules and regulations, provisions of this Act and conditions contained in annual dates orders issued by the Board, the Board may grant such dates and programs to such applicants as so agreed by them if the Board determines that the grant of these racing dates is in the best interests of racing. The Board shall treat any such agreement as the agreement signatories' joint and several application for racing dates during the term of the agreement. (c) Where 2 or more applicants propose to conduct horse race meetings within 35 miles of each other, as certified to the Board under Section 19 (a) (1) of this Act, on conflicting dates, the Board may determine and grant the number of racing days to be awarded to the several applicants in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e-5) of Section 20 of this Act. (d) (Blank). (e) Prior to the issuance of an organization license, the applicant shall file with the Board the bond required in subsection (d) of Section 27 payable to the State of Illinois, executed by the applicant and a surety company or companies authorized to do business in this State, and conditioned upon the payment by the organization licensee of all taxes due under Section 27, other monies due and payable under this Act, all purses due and payable, and that the organization licensee will upon presentation of the winning ticket or tickets distribute all sums due to the patrons of pari-mutuel pools. (f) Each organization license shall specify the person to whom it is issued, the dates upon which horse racing is permitted, and the location, place, track, or enclosure where the horse race meeting is to be held. (g) Any person who owns one or more race tracks within the State may seek, in its own name, a separate organization license for each race track. (h) All racing conducted under such organization license is subject to this Act and to the rules and regulations from time to time prescribed by the Board, and every such organization license issued by the Board shall contain a recital to that effect. (i) Each such organization licensee may provide that at least one race per day may be devoted to the racing of quarter horses, appaloosas, arabians, or paints. (j) In acting on applications for organization licenses, the Board shall give weight to an organization license which has implemented a good faith affirmative action effort to recruit, train and upgrade minorities in all classifications within the organization license.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19; 102-689, eff. 12-17-21.)