§ 6z-129 — Horse Racing Purse Equity Fund

The Horse Racing Purse Equity Fund is a nonappropriated trust fund held outside of the State treasury. Within 30 calendar days after funds are deposited in the Horse Racing Purse Equity Fund and the applicable grant agreement is executed, whichever is later, the Department of Agriculture shall transfer the entire balance in the Fund to the organization licensees that hold purse moneys that support each of the legally recognized horsemen's associations that have contracted with an organization licensee over the immediately preceding 3 calendar years under subsection (d) of Section 29 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. The 2024 and 2025 division of such fund balance among the qualifying purse accounts shall be pursuant to the 2021 agreement of the involved horsemen associations with 45% being allocated to the thoroughbred purse account at a racetrack located in Stickney Township in Cook County, 30% being allocated to the harness purse account at a racetrack located in Stickney Township in Cook County, and 25% being allocated to the thoroughbred purse account at a racetrack located in Madison County. Transfers may be made to an organization licensee that has one or more executed grant agreements while the other organization licensee awaits finalization and execution of its grant agreement or agreements. All funds transferred to purse accounts pursuant to this Section shall be for the sole purpose of augmenting future purses during State fiscal years 2025 and 2026. For purposes of this Section, a legally recognized horsemen association is that horsemen association representing the largest number of owners, trainers, jockeys or Standardbred drivers who race horses at an Illinois organization licensee and that enter into agreements with Illinois organization licenses to govern the racing meet and that also provide required consents pursuant to the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23; 103-588, eff. 7-1-24; 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)