Plans to buy more Illinois horses next year
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Super Bowl champion linebacker Devin White has an
unlikely connection to Illinois since he recently purchased three standardbred
horses with plans to race them in the Prairie State. The Buccaneers star
linebacker, White, made headlines last week when he took a different
standardbred horse for a victory lap around Raymond James Stadium while holding
the Lombardi Trophy. White co-owns his three Illinois-bred horses with his
friend Adam Hawthorne.
“Devin is really excited to get into the business,” said Hawthorne. “This is
his first time getting involved in horse racing and we plan to buy more
Illinois-bred horses next year. Illinois is my favorite state to race in, bar
none.”
The names of the horses White and Hawthorne purchased are First and Goal,
Timber Creek Molly, and Creations Dream MV. The owners plan to keep them
stabled in Louisiana during the winter where trainer Herman Wheeler will work
with them. This spring, Wheeler will move the horses to compete in Illinois.
“Illinois harness racing is on the verge of an incredible comeback,” said
Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association President Clark Fairley. “Buying an
Illinois-bred horse is a great investment right now. We can now say that anyone
who gets into the business has an opportunity to be successful.”
If all goes well, White’s horses will compete on the Illinois’ county fair
circuit in early summer as they prepare for bigger purses at Hawthorne
Racecourse near Chicago later in the year. There are a variety of incentives
for owners to buy and race Illinois-bred horses in the Land of Lincoln. Because
of the recently passed “racino” bill, Illinois-bred horses will be racing for
larger purses and better racing opportunities in the years to come.
Ed Teefey runs the Illini Classic Sales at the Springfield State Fairgrounds
where White and Hawthorne purchased their horses. Teefey is optimistic about
the future of harness racing.
“You have to be optimistic in this business,” said Teefey. “Illinois-bred
horses are a great value right now. Illinois isn’t flooded with horses the way
some other states are and there are lots of good racing opportunities. Combined
with the new revenue from casino gaming, it’s a good time to buy a racehorse
here.”
Teefey said that the number of foals born in 2020 was 354, up from 144 born in
2018. And while that’s a far cry from the peak of 2,535 horses born in 1984,
it’s solid growth that can be built on.
Illinois was once the premier harness racing state in the
nation hosting the prestigious Hambletonian at the DuQuoin racetrack. Years of
disinvestment by the state led to the near collapse of an industry that at its
peak employed nearly 40,000 people. That all changed when racetracks in
Illinois were allowed to compete with land-based casinos by adding table games
and slot machines to racetracks in 2019. Once those racinos are up and running,
the money that they generate will be invested into purse winnings.
Horse breeding is labor intensive and it has taken decades to establish a
program in Illinois. Illinois horse breeding farms create many agricultural
jobs, and the economic ripples are felt throughout the state from grain and hay
farmers, to blacksmiths, grooms, and equipment dealers.
“We’re looking forward to growing the sport again in Illinois,” said Fairley. “A new racetrack is expected to be built within the next few years which will allow us to race more days and purses should continue to increase as well. I’m hopeful.”
