# Arlington Park Racecourse v. Illinois Racing Board

> Appellate Court of Illinois · May 29, 2012 · 980 N.E.2d 72

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/3148138

## Case

- **Court:** Appellate Court of Illinois
- **Decided:** May 29, 2012
- **Citations:** 980 N.E.2d 72; 2012 IL App (1st) 103743
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Cited by:** 1 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/3148138

## Opinion text

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court

Arlington Park Racecourse LLC v. Illinois Racing Board, 2012 IL App (1st) 103743

Appellate Court ARLINGTON PARK RACECOURSE LLC, Plaintiff-Appellant, v.
Caption ILLINOIS RACING BOARD; JOSEPH J. SINOPOLI, as Chairman and
Not Individually; DENNIS S. BOOKSHESTER, JOSEPH N.
CASCIATO, W. JACK CHAMBLIN, ANGELO CIAMBRONE,
WILLIAM H. FARLEY, TIMOTHY P. MARTIN, JONATHAN P.
METCALF, MICHAEL E. MURPHY, PAUL B. SMITH, ROBERT C.
WINCHESTER and MARC LIANO, as Members and Not Individually;
HAWTHORNE RACECOURSE, INC.; MAYWOOD PARK
TROTTING ASSOCIATION, INC.; BALMORAL RACING CLUB,
INC.; AND FAIRMOUNT PARK, INC., Defendants-Appellees.
District & No. First District, First Division
Docket No. 1-10-3743

Rule 23 Order filed April 23, 2012
Rule 23 Order
withdrawn May 25, 2012
Opinion filed May 29, 2012

Held The decision of the Illinois Racing Board with regard to the calculation
(Note: This syllabus of distributions from the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund to organization
constitutes no part of licensees under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 was affirmed with
the opinion of the court the exception of the Board’s failure to include the handle generated by the
but has been prepared state fairs and the concomitant share of the Fund monies state fairs should
by the Reporter of receive in its calculation, since section 54.5(b)(2)(B) of the Act is
Decisions for the ambiguous, there were arguments supporting the interpretations of both
convenience of the the Board and plaintiff, and the Board’s interpretation, including its
reader.)
decision that the handle generated by an ineligible licensee at a track
operated by an eligible licensee should be including in calculating
distributions to the eligible licensee, was entitled to deference based on
the Board’s experience and expertise.
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 09-CH-28774; the
Review Hon. Nancy J. Arnold, Judge, presiding.

Judgment Affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Counsel on Seyfarth Shaw LLP, of Chicago (P. Shawn Wood and Marcus L. Mintz,
Appeal of counsel), for appellant.

Richard J. Prendergast, Ltd., of Chicago (Richard J. Prendergast and
Michael T. Layden, of counsel), for appellee Hawthorne Race Course,
Inc.

Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Chicago (Michael A. Scodro,
Solicitor General, and Richard S. Huszagh, Assistant Attorney General,
of counsel), for other appellees.

Panel JUSTICE KARNEZIS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Hoffman and Justice Hall concurred in the judgment
and opinion.

OPINION

¶1 Plaintiff Arlington Park Racecourse LLC appeals from an order of the circuit court
affirming the administrative decision of defendant Illinois Racing Board (the Board)
regarding the calculation of distributions from the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund to
organization licensees under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 (the Racing Act) (230
ILCS 5/1 et seq. (West 2006)). Plaintiff argues the Board’s interpretation of the distribution
calculation found in section 54.5(b)(2)(B) of the Racing Act (230 ILCS 5/54.5(b)(2)(B)
(West 2006)) improperly bolstered distribution shares to defendants Hawthorne Race Course,
Inc. (Hawthorne), and Maywood Trotting Association, Inc. (Maywood), to plaintiff’s
detriment. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

¶2 Background
¶3 Being of the opinion that riverboat gaming casinos in Illinois have had a negative impact
on Illinois’s horse racing industry, the Illinois legislature determined that monetary assistance
to the horse racing industry was in order to offset the negative impact. To that end, effective

-2-
May 26, 2006, the General Assembly passed Public Act 94-804. Under this legislation,
casinos with an adjusted gross receipts over $200 million had to deposit 3% of their adjusted
gross receipts daily into the newly created Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund (the Fund) for
a period of two years, from May 26, 2006, to May 26, 2008. Pub. Act 94-804, § 15 (eff. May
26, 2006); 230 ILCS 10/7 (West 2006).
¶4 Pursuant to section 54.5 of the Racing Act, the Fund was to be administered by the
Illinois Racing Board, with 60% of the monies in the Fund to be distributed as purses at races
and the remaining 40% to qualifying organization licensees to be used for the improvement,
maintenance, marketing and operation of their racing facilities.1 Pub. Act 94-804, § 10 (eff.
May 26, 2006); 230 ILCS 5/54.5(a), (b)(2)(B) (West 2006). The monies were to be
distributed from the Fund within 10 days of deposit into the Fund. 230 ILCS 5/54.5(b) (West
2006).
¶5 The four casinos subject to the legislation filed suit in the circuit court of Will County
against the Board and the State Treasurer, asserting the legislation was unconstitutional. They
paid the mandated 3% of their revenue into a protest fund rather than into the Fund. In June
2008, the Illinois Supreme Court rejected the casinos’ claims, finding Public Act 94-804 was
constitutional. Empress Casino Joliet Corp. v. Giannoulias, 231 Ill. 2d 62 (2008), cert.
denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 2764 (2009). The monies in the protest fund were then
transferred into the Fund and it was for the Board to determine distribution of the monies.
To that end, in June 2009, the Board requested position papers from interested parties
regarding how the Fund monies deposited pursuant to Public Act 94-804 should be
distributed.
¶6 Meanwhile, on May 26, 2008, section 54.5 had expired by its own terms after two years.
However, the legislature reenacted the provisions of Public Act 04-804 for a period of three
years by passing Public Act 95-1008, effective December 15, 2008. Pub. Act 95-1008, § 1
(eff. Dec. 15, 2008). The legislation added section 54.75 to the Racing Act to replace the
former section 54.5. Pub. Act 95-1008, § 1 (eff. Dec. 15, 2008). Section 54.75 had essentially
the same language as section 54.5. 230 ILCS 5/54.75 (West 2008); 230 ILCS 5/54.5 (West
2006).
¶7 The Board scheduled a meeting to determine how, pursuant to section 54.5, the monies
in the Fund should be distributed. Hawthorne, Arlington, Maywood and Balmoral submitted
position papers in advance of the meeting. The Board’s general counsel submitted a
memorandum with staff recommendations (staff memorandum) regarding the distributions.
On July 14, 2009, the Board adopted the recommendations in the staff memorandum and
approved the percentages of distribution in that memorandum.
¶8 Relevant here is the Board’s interpretation of section 54.5(b)(2)(B) regarding how the
40% of the Fund intended for the improvement, maintenance and marketing of racing

1
The Racing Act defines an organization licensee as “any person receiving an organization
license from the Board to conduct a race meeting or meetings.” 230 ILCS 5/3.11 (West 2008).

-3-
facilities should be distributed.2 There was no question that 11% of that 40% would go to
organization licensee Fairmount Park, Inc., pursuant to section 54.5(b)(2)(A). The question
was how the following language in section 54.5(b)(2)(B) regarding the remaining 89% of the
40% should be interpreted:
“(B) the remaining 89% shall be distributed pro rata according to the aggregate
proportion of total handle from wagering on live races conducted in Illinois
(irrespective of where the wagers are placed) for calendar years 2004 and 2005 to any
person (or its successors or assigns) who (i) had majority operating control of a
racing facility at which live racing was conducted in calendar year 2002, (ii) is a
licensee in the current year, and (iii) is not eligible to receive monies under
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (2).
***
If any person identified in this paragraph (2) becomes ineligible to receive moneys
from the Fund, such amount shall be redistributed among the remaining persons in
proportion to their percentages otherwise calculated.”3 230 ILCS 5/54.5(b)(2) (West
2006).
¶9 The staff memorandum looked first to which organization licensees qualified for
distributions under section 54.5(b)(2)(B). At the time Public Act 04-804 was enacted in
2006, National Jockey Club (NJC) met the requirements for distribution under section
54.5(b)(2)(B) because (i) it had majority operating control of a racing facility at which live
racing was conducted in calendar year 2002; (ii) was a licensee in 2006; and (iii) was not
eligible for distribution under subsection (b)(2)(A). However, by the time the Board was
ready to make the distributions in 2009, NJC was no longer a licensee. Therefore, the staff
found NJC not eligible to receive a share of the funds because it no longer met the
requirements of section 54.5(b)(2)(B)(ii).
¶ 10 The staff interpreted the “licensee in the current year” requirement in section
54.5(b)(2)(B)(ii) to mean that the distribution was intended for those who were organization
licensees in the year of distribution, and NJC did not qualify as such in 2009. The staff
explained that, reading “current year” to mean based on each year the law was in operation,
i.e., based on licensure in 2006, 2007 and 2008, would result in a 2009 distribution to an out-
of-business former licensee that no longer conducted live races. Reading the “current year”
in context with the provision that “[i]f any person identified in this paragraph (2) becomes
ineligible to receive moneys from the Fund, such amount shall be redistributed among the
remaining persons in proportion to their percentages otherwise calculated” (230 ILCS

2
The 40% of the Fund remaining after 60% of the Fund has been distributed for purses.
3
Title 11 of the Illinois Administrative Code defines “handle” as the “aggregate dollar
amount of all pari-mutuel pools, excluding refundable wagers.” 11 Ill. Adm. Code 210.10 (2012).
It defines “pari-mutuel system” as the “manual, electro-mechanical, or computerized system and all
software (including the totalizator, account betting system and off-site betting equipment) that is
used to record wagers and transmit wagering data.” 11 Ill. Adm. Code 210.10 (2012).

-4-
5/54.5(b)(2) (West 2006)), the staff found it clear that the legislature did not intend for
nonoperating licensees to receive funds. NJC was no longer eligible for a distribution.
¶ 11 Consistent with its interpretation of “current year,” the staff memorandum recommended
that, of the organization licensees conducting races in 2004 and 2005, only four met the
requirements for distribution stated in section 54.5(b)(2)(B): Arlington, Hawthorne,
Maywood and Balmoral. Each was eligible for distribution because each (i) had majority
operating control of a racing facility at which live racing was conducted in calendar year
2002; (ii) was a licensee in the “current year,” i.e., 2009; and (iii) was not eligible to receive
monies under subparagraph (A) of section 54.5(b)(2).
¶ 12 Although Fairmount met the requirements of sections 54.5(b)(2)(B)(i) and (ii), it already
qualified for the 11% distribution under section 54.5(b)(2)(A). Therefore, pursuant to section
54.5(b)(2)(B)(iii), it could not also receive a distribution under section 54.5(b)(2)(B).
¶ 13 The staff memorandum then examined the section 54.5(b)(2)(B) requirement that the
89% “shall be distributed pro rata according to the aggregate proportion of total handle from
wagering on live races conducted in Illinois (irrespective of where the wagers are placed) for
calendar years 2004 and 2005.” 230 ILCS 5/54.5(b)(2)(B) (West 2006). In determining the
proportion of total handle attributed to each eligible licensee, it found an apparent ambiguity
in the phrase “aggregate proportion of total handle from wagering on live races” because it
could be limited to just the wagering on the eligible organization licensees’ live races. The
staff found the statute “seem[ed] to be written in that manner” because the statute did not
provide that the shares were to be determined based on the aggregate total of 2004 and 2005
handle from all organization licensees that operated at a racetrack.
¶ 14 In section 54 of the Act, the legislature directed how the distribution of moneys from the
“Horse Racing Equity Fund,” a fund entirely separate from the Horse Racing Equity Trust
Fund at issue here, should be made. The legislature stated the moneys from that fund were
to be “distributed pro rata according to the aggregate proportion of state-wide handle at the
racetrack, inter-track, and inter-track wagering locations.” (Emphasis added.) 230 ILCS
5/54(b)(2) (West 2006). The Board’s staff found that if the legislature had intended that the
total handle of all organization licensees operating at the same racetrack be included in the
calculation of the section 54.75 proportion, it had the “racetrack” language to do so available
in the immediately preceding section of the Racing Act.
¶ 15 However, the staff found this interpretation of the phrase “aggregate proportion of total
handle from wagering on live races,” which limited “total handle” to include only the 2004-
05 handle of eligible stakeholders in the Fund, to be inadequate. It found that, “logically[,]
‘total handle’ [was] intended to include the handle of all live racing in the state.” (Emphasis
in original.) The problem was that there were two organization licensees who generated
handle in 2004 and 2005 that were not eligible for distributions under the statute. In 2004 and
2005, Suburban Downs, Inc. (Suburban), generated handle operating a meet at the
Hawthorne facility and Associates Racing Association (Associates) generated handle at the
Maywood facility. However, because neither Suburban nor Associates held majority
operating control of a racing facility in 2002, neither was eligible for a distribution under
section 54.5(b)(2)(B).

-5-
¶ 16 Since “total handle” meant all handle, if an eligible licensee was to receive its share
based on the proportion of the handle it generated to all handle generated, the proportion of
handle generated by Suburban and Associates would not be accounted for. The staff
questioned what should be done with the proportion generated by “subordinate licensees”
Suburban and Associates. It recommended that the logical course was to include
“subordinate licensee” handle with the handle of the organization licensee with the majority
operating control at the facility at which the subordinate licensee’s handle was generated. So,
because Suburban’s races were run at Hawthorne’s track and Associates’ races were run at
Maywood’s track, Suburban’s handle would be combined with Hawthorne’s handle and
Associate’s handle would be combined with Maywood’s handle. The staff reported that “[i]n
that way, total handle is accounted for and attributed to eligible stakeholders in the Fund.”
¶ 17 In 2004 and 2005, NJC generated handle from races run at Hawthorne’s track. However,
under the staff’s interpretation of section 54.5, NJC’s 2004 and 2005 handle would not be
attributed to Hawthorne. In 2006 when the legislation was passed, NJC was eligible for a
distribution from the Fund in its own right because it was a licensee in that year and had
majority operating control of a racing facility, Sportsman’s Park, in 2002. If the money had
been distributed from the Fund in 2006, NJC would have received a share based on the
aggregate proportion of handle it generated from its own live races in 2004 and 2005. If NJC
still had held licensee status in the “current year,” 2009, the year of distribution, it would
have received the same share. However, in 2009 NJC no longer existed as an organization
licensee. The staff, therefore, determined that NJC’s handle had to fall under the section
54.5(b)(2)(B) provision stating that, if any person becomes ineligible to receive monies from
the Fund, its share was to be redistributed among the remaining persons to its percentage
otherwise calculated. That share could not go to Hawthorne.
¶ 18 The staff recommended that the distribution from the Fund be as follows:
Fairmount 11% $3,365,507.02
Arlington 33.8003% $10,341,384.73
Hawthorne 22.4059% $6,855,210.28 (incl. Suburban’s percentage)
Balmoral/Maywood 32.7937% $10,033,416.30 (Balmoral and Maywood are
jointly owned; incl. Associates’ percentage).
The Board adopted this recommendation.
¶ 19 Arlington filed a complaint for administrative review of the Board’s decision with the
circuit court of Cook County against the Board, Hawthorne, Maywood, Balmoral and
Fairmount. It contested only the portion of the Board’s decision crediting Suburban’s handle
to Hawthorne and Associates’ handle to Maywood for purposes of calculating the Fund
distribution shares under section 54.5.
¶ 20 The court affirmed the Board’s decision. The court found the distribution provision
ambiguous and that it was for the Board, applying its expertise regarding horse racing, to
resolve the ambiguity. It found the Board’s interpretation of the statute supportable given the
statute’s focus on the improvement of “live racing facilities.”
¶ 21 Plaintiff timely appealed from the court’s order. On appeal, it again contests only that

-6-
portion of the Board’s decision crediting Suburban’s handle to Hawthorne and Associates’
handle to Maywood for purposes of calculating the Fund distribution shares under section
54.5.
¶ 22 We recognize that section 54.5 of the Racing Act has been repealed due to expiration of
its two-year effective period and has been replaced by section 54.75. Because the issue before
us initially concerned the Board’s interpretation of section 54.5, we will refer to section 54.5.
However, our analysis applies equally to section 54.75. The language in section 54.75 is
essentially the same as the language in section 54.5. The only relevant difference is that
section 54.5 applies to monies deposited into the Fund during the two-year period set forth
in Public Act 94-804 (May 26, 2006, to May 26, 2008), while section 54.75 applies to
monies deposited into the Fund during the three-year period set forth in Public Act 95-1008
(December 15, 2008, to December 15, 2011). Although section 54.75 expired by its own
terms on December 15, 2011, distribution of the monies the casinos deposited into the Fund
during that three-year period is still to be made pursuant to the distribution calculation in
section 54.75.

¶ 23 Analysis
¶ 24 Standard of Review
¶ 25 Plaintiff appeals from the court’s order affirming that portion of the Board’s decision
crediting Suburban’s and Associates’ handles to Hawthorne and Maywood, respectively, for
purposes of calculating the Fund distribution shares. The Board and Hawthorne have each
filed a brief in response.
¶ 26 In an administrative review case such as the case at bar, we review the decision of the
agency, here the Board, not that of the trial court. Krocka v. Police Board, 327 Ill. App. 3d
36, 46 (2001). Our function is the same as that of the trial court, “namely, to determine,
based on a review of the record that was before the administrative agency, whether the
agency’s findings and orders are against the manifest weight of the evidence or whether the
agency acted arbitrarily, without cause, or in clear abuse of its discretion.” North Avenue
Properties, L.L.C. v. Zoning Board of Appeals, 312 Ill. App. 3d 182, 184 (2000); 735 ILCS
5/3-110 (West 1998).
¶ 27 An agency’s findings of fact are considered prima facie true and correct and will not be
disturbed unless they are contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, i.e., if all
reasonable people would agree that the finding is erroneous and that the opposite conclusion
clearly evident. North Avenue Properties, L.L.C., 312 Ill. App. 3d at 184; Chicago Title &
Trust Co. v. Village of Inverness, 315 Ill. App. 3d 1100, 1103 (2000). The Board’s findings
of fact are uncontested here. Instead, the issue is the Board’s interpretation of section
54.5(b)(2)(B) of the Racing Act, a statute. Construction of a statute is a question of law,
which we review de novo. North Avenue Properties, L.L.C., 312 Ill. App. 3d at 185.

¶ 28 Section 54.5(b)(2)(B)
¶ 29 The parties do not contest the Board’s interpretation of the eligibility requirements stated

-7-
in sections 54.5(b)(2)(B)(i), (ii) and (iii). They agree that Arlington, Hawthorne, Maywood
and Balmoral qualify as organization licensees eligible to receive a distribution from the
Fund under section 54.5(b)(2)(B). The point of contention is the calculation of that
distribution, i.e., the Board’s interpretation of the statutory direction that distributions from
the Fund are to be made to eligible organization licensees “pro rata according to the
aggregate proportion of total handle from wagering on live races conducted in Illinois
(irrespective of where the wagers are placed) for calendar years 2004 and 2005.” 230 ILCS
5/54.5(b)(2)(B) (West 2006).
¶ 30 Plaintiff argues that the Board’s decision to allow the handle of ineligible licensees
Suburban and Associates to be included in the formula for calculating the respective shares
of the four eligible licensees violates fundamental principles of statutory construction, is
wholly unsupported by the statutory language of section 54.5(b)(2)(B) and must be reversed.
Plaintiff argues the only reasonable interpretation of the legislation is that “aggregate
proportion of total handle” must refer to the handle generated by those organization licensees
that satisfy the eligibility requirements also stated in the same sentence.4
¶ 31 Paraphrasing plaintiff’s argument, it asserts that distributions are to be made based on the
following proportion: handle (wagering revenue) generated by an eligible licensee from live
racing in Illinois divided by total of handle generated by all the eligible licensees from live
racing in Illinois. In contrast, the Board used the following proportion: handle generated by
an eligible licensee from live racing in Illinois plus any handle generated by ineligible
licensees from live racing in Illinois for races run at a racetrack operated by that eligible
licensee divided by total of all handle generated from live racing in Illinois.
¶ 32 Plaintiff asserts that the Board’s interpretation of section 54.5(b)(2)(B) reads the phrase
“aggregate proportion” out of the statute. “[T]otal handle from wagering on live racing in
Illinois (irrespective of where the wagers are placed)” is modified by the immediately
preceding “aggregate proportion.” Plaintiff asserts the sentence as a whole, therefore, means
that, in calculating a distributee’s share of handle, each distributee may include handle from
its own races generated both through wagers placed at the racetrack where the race(s)
occurred and through wagers placed at other betting facilities. We agree that the proportion
of handle of an eligible licensee includes handle generated from its races no matter where the
wagering on those races took place. But we do not agree that this means “total handle”
should be limited to only the handle generated by the eligible licensees or that “aggregate
proportion of total handle” does not include handle generated by noneligible licensees.
¶ 33 We agree with the Board that “total handle from wagering on live races in Illinois”
logically can be read only one way: to mean the handle from all live racing in Illinois.
“Total,” here an adjective modifying the noun “handle,” commonly means “all.” It is defined
as “[w]hole; not divided; full; complete.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1498 (7th ed. 1999). The
“handle from wagering on live races in Illinois” would not be “total,” i.e., “whole” or

4
The first part of the section 54.5(b)(2)(B) sentence sets out the formula for determining the
distribution shares and the second part of the sentence sets out the requirements for eligibility for
such a distribution, i.e., who should get a share.

-8-
“complete,” if it did not include the handle from all racing in Illinois. It would not be “total”
if it only included the handle generated by the four eligible licensees. Handle was generated
in 2004 and 2005 by other, ineligible licensees. That handle must be included in the
calculation if “total handle” is to be given its common and clearly understood meaning.
¶ 34 The adverb “pro rata” is defined as “[p]roportionately; according to an exact rate,
measure, or interest.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1236 (7th ed. 1999).
¶ 35 The phrase “the aggregate proportion” has no common usage that this court, or the trial
court for that matter, could discover. “Aggregate,” an adjective modifying the noun
“proportion,” is defined as “[f]ormed by combining into a single whole or total.” Black’s
Law Dictionary 66 (7th ed. 1999). The noun “proportion” is defined as “comparative relation
between things; ratio.” Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1551 (2d ed. 1998).
So “the aggregate proportion” is apparently “the combination into a single whole/total of
ratio” or some variation thereof.
¶ 36 Putting it all together, “pro rata according to aggregate proportion of total handle from
wagering” appears to mean that each distributee will receive a share of the Fund
“[proportionately] according to [the combination into a single whole/total of ratio] of
[whole/complete] handle from wagering.” It is impossible to glean from this instruction how
exactly the pro rata distribution, the proportion of each eligible licensee’s share, is to be
determined. The instruction is confusing and certainly ambiguous. It appears to support both
plaintiff’s interpretation and the Board’s interpretation.
¶ 37 Where a statute is ambiguous, we will give substantial deference and weight to the
interpretation of the statute by the agency charged with administration and enforcement of
that statute. Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm’n, 95 Ill. 2d
142, 152 (1983). Although an agency’s interpretation of its enabling statute and regulations
is not binding on the court, the agency has the experience and expertise to make an informed
judgment on what the legislature intended in enacting the statute and we will defer to that
expertise. Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co., 95 Ill. 2d at 152. “If the language of the
statute permits two constructions, one of which would render the provision absurd and
illogical and the other of which would render the provision reasonable and sensible, the
former construction must be avoided.” County of Cook v. Illinois Labor Relations Board
Local Panel, 347 Ill. App. 3d 538, 547 (2004).
¶ 38 Here, the Board is the agency charged with administering the Racing Act and, more
specifically, with making the distributions from the Fund. Therefore, in our interpretation of
the statute, we will defer to the Board’s years of experience and expertise administering the
horse racing industry and the statute, as long as the Board’s interpretation is reasonable and
sensible.
¶ 39 It is clear, and the Board admits, that the Board’s interpretation of the phrase has no
direct support in the language of the statute. The statute does not expressly direct that handle
generated by an ineligible licensee at a racetrack controlled by an eligible licensee should be
added to the handle of that eligible licensee for purposes of calculating the distribution
proportion. However, as stated above, “total handle” means “whole/complete handle.” The
“whole” handle comprises handle generated by the four eligible licensees and by Fairmount,

-9-
Suburban, Associates and a few state fairs. If “aggregate proportion of total handle” means
only the proportion of handle generated by the eligible licensees, not all handle will be
accounted for. As the Board asked: if distribution was only intended for eligible licensees,
what should happen to the proportion of handle generated by ineligible licensees?
¶ 40 Some portion of “total handle” could be generated by a licensee who initially was eligible
for a distribution under section 54.5(b)(2)(B) but became ineligible. Section 54.5(b)(2)
provides for such an eventuality. It directs that, if “any person identified in this paragraph (2)
becomes ineligible to receive moneys from the Fund, such amount shall be redistributed
among the remaining persons in proportion to their percentages otherwise calculated.” 230
ILCS 5/54.5(b)(2) (West 2006). As discussed previously, NJC is an example of an eligible
licensee that became ineligible. NJC was eligible for a distribution in 2006 when the
legislation was passed but, by the time of distribution in 2009, “the current year,” it had lost
its license and was no longer eligible. Therefore, pursuant to section 54.5(b)(2), because NJC
was eligible but became ineligible by the time of distribution, the share of the Fund that it
could have received is to be divided and distributed to the eligible licensees according to
each eligible licensee’s percentage share of the Fund. To accomplish this, the Board did not
include NJC’s handle in “total handle” in calculating the eligible licensees’ shares of the
Fund. This is the logical way to ensure that NJC’s share of the Fund monies is distributed to
all eligible licensees “in proportion to their percentages otherwise calculated” as required.
¶ 41 In contrast, Suburban and Associates did not “become ineligible” such that their shares
were to be redistributed to the eligible licensees per section 54.5(b)(2). Although Suburban
and Associates both generated handle from wagering on live racing in Illinois, neither ever
met the eligibility requirements in section 54.5(b)(2)(B) because neither had majority
operating control of a racing facility in 2002. Because they were never eligible for a
distribution, they could not become ineligible such that section 54.5(b)(2) covered
redistribution of their proportions.
¶ 42 Suburban generated approximately 5.9% of total handle from wagering on live racing in
Illinois and Associates generated approximately 4.5% of total handle. Combined, they
generated 10.4% of total handle. The statute does not specifically provide direction on how
the proportion of handle generated by an ineligible licensee who had not “become ineligible”
should be treated in calculating Fund distributions. Arguably, therefore, the combined 10.4%
of handle generated by Suburban and Associates, which equates to an approximately 9.3%
share of the section 54.5(b)(2)(B) Fund monies, or approximately $2.8 million, would remain
undistributed.5
¶ 43 In enacting Public Act 94-804 to add section 54.5 to the Racing Act, the legislature found
that “riverboat gaming has had a negative impact on horse racing” because from 1992, the
first full year of riverboat gaming, through 2005, “Illinois on-track wagering has decreased

5
The monies deposited into the Fund for 2006-08 totaled $76,488,795.82. Forty percent of
the Fund remaining after the sixty percent distribution for purses is valued at $30,595,518.33.
Eighty-nine percent of that forty percent is valued at $27,230,011.31. Suburban and Associates’
approximately 10.9% share of that 89% is valued at $2,844,919.96.

-10-
by 42% from $835 million to $482 million.” Pub. Act 94-804, § 1 (eff. May 26, 2006). The
legislature stated the “decline of the Illinois horseracing and breeding program, a $2.5 billion
industry, would be reversed” by enactment of the Act. Pub. Act 94-804, § 1 (eff. May 26,
2006). It found that the monies the casinos deposited into the Fund “will benefit that
important [horse racing] industry for Illinois farmers, breeders, and fans of horse racing and
will begin to address the negative impact riverboat gaming has had in Illinois horseracing.”
Pub. Act 94-804, § 1 (eff. May 26, 2006). It directed that the monies in the Fund to be
distributed within 10 days of deposit into the Fund. 230 ILCS 5/54.5(b) (West 2006).
¶ 44 Declaring that “riverboat gaming continues to have a negative impact on horse racing,”
the legislature reiterated its findings when it reenacted the provisions in 2008. Pub. Act 95-
1008, § 1 (eff. Dec. 15, 2008). It also found that the “prompt release and distribution” of the
monies in the protest fund to purses and improvement and maintenance of the racing
facilities was “urgently needed.” Pub. Act 95-1008, § 1 (eff. Dec. 15, 2008). Given the
urgency with which the legislature viewed the impact of riverboat gaming on the horse racing
industry and that it ordered the monies in the Fund to be distributed within 10 days of deposit
into the Fund, the legislature cannot possibly have intended that a substantial percentage of
the Fund would remain undistributed in perpetuity.
¶ 45 The Board’s solution to the problem of undistributed monies in the Fund was to craft an
interpretation of the statute that met both the legislative intent stated above and the direction
that the monies received by an eligible licensee under section 54.5(b)(2)(B) were to be used
by the licensee “to improve, maintain, market, and otherwise operate its racing facilities to
conduct live racing, which shall include backstretch services and capital improvements
related to live racing and the backstretch” (230 ILCS 5/54.5(b)(2)(B) (West 2006)). By
adding the proportion of handle generated at a racetrack by an ineligible licensee to the
proportion of handle generated by the eligible licensee who controlled that racetrack, the
Board ensured that the majority of the proportions making up “total handle” was accounted
for in the distribution calculation.6
¶ 46 The Board’s interpretation also ensured that the eligible licensee with majority operating
control of a particular track received monies in proportion to the aggregate amount of racing
conducted at the track, not just for the racing it conducted at the track. The legislature
directed that those monies were to be spent to “improve, maintain, market, and otherwise
operate its racing facilities to conduct live racing, which shall include backstretch services
and capital improvements related to live racing.” 230 ILCS 5/54.5(b)(2)(B) (West 2006). The
Board’s interpretation assures that the monies will cover the wear and tear caused by all
racing at a racetrack, not just the controlling licensee’ racing, and marketing for all races at
the track, not just for the eligible licensee’s.
¶ 47 The Board’s interpretation of the statute is reasonable, especially when we consider that
“aggregate” means “formed by combining into a single whole or total.” This necessarily
implies that an “aggregate proportion” may be comprised of multiple units. There would be

6
Handle generated by Fairmount and the state fairs was not included in the Board’s
calculation of “total handle.” This issue will be addressed below.

-11-
no need to use “aggregate” to modify “proportion” if only one proportion (the proportion of
an eligible licensee’s handle to total of all eligible licensees’ handle) is involved in the
distribution calculation as plaintiff argues. The Board’s interpretation of “aggregate
proportion of total handle” as including more than one proportion in the calculation of a
licensee’s share (including both the handle generated by an eligible licensee and the handle
generated by a subordinate licensee racing at the eligible licensee’s track) is reflective of the
legislature’s recognition that more than one proportion may be included in calculating each
eligible licensee’s share.
¶ 48 The result of the Board’s interpretation is that distributions from the Fund will be made
based on handle generated at a racetrack, rather than handle generated by an eligible licensee.
In other words, shares would be determined based on the volume of racing at a particular
track rather than on the volume of racing generated by a particular eligible licensee. We grant
that the statute directs that distributions are to be made to a “person,” an eligible licensee,
and not to a racetrack. We also grant that the legislature had the necessary “racetrack”
language available, as shown by the fact that it used the word “racetrack” in the immediately
preceding paragraph in section 54.5(b)(2)(A). It could easily have directed that distributions
should be made pro rata based on the proportion of handle generated at a racetrack.
However, it could just as easily have directed that distributions should be made pro rata
based on the proportion of handle that each licensee generated. It did neither, issuing instead
a direction that is susceptible to more than one interpretation. As discussed above, the
Board’s interpretation of that direction conforms with the purpose of the legislation and is,
therefore, reasonable. We agree with plaintiff that there is no language in the statute
specifically supporting the Board’s attribution of handle from an ineligible licensee to an
eligible licensee. But that interpretation makes more sense than plaintiff’s interpretation,
which is the direct opposite of the legislature’s direction that the relevant proportions be of
“total handle,” i.e., all handle.

¶ 49 Error in Calculation of Distributions
¶ 50 Plaintiff argues that, even if the Board’s construction of section 54.5(b)(2)(B) is correct,
the Board failed to apply its own interpretation because it did not actually include “all handle
generated from live racing in Illinois” in its distribution calculation. Plaintiff asserts the
Board’s calculation of “total handle” failed to include the handle generated from wagering
on races conducted in Illinois by Fairmount and at the state fairs in Springfield, Du Quoin
and Brown Counties.
¶ 51 Hawthorne asserts plaintiff waived this argument because plaintiff did not raise it to the
Board and did not raise it to the trial court until it filed its reply brief in support of its
complaint for administrative review. Plaintiff did not waive this argument. Plaintiff (1) could
not have raised this issue to the Board because the Board had not stated its interpretation of
the statute at the time plaintiff was arguing the issue and (2) sufficiently raised it in its reply
in support of its complaint.
¶ 52 Looking to the issue, as plaintiff points out, the Board’s decision does not include handle
generated by Fairmount and the state fairs in its calculation of “total handle.” Its decision,

-12-
in the form of the staff memorandum, does not explain why this handle is excluded. The
Board argues here that the statutory text does not mandate that the “aggregate proportion”
used to determine the pro rata share of distributions for each eligible licensee, when added
to the other shares, must equal 100% of the handle for all races in Illinois. We disagree. Of
course the “aggregate proportion” shares added together must equal 100%. The handle in
“aggregate proportion of total handle” would not be “total” if the relevant component
proportions making up that total did not add up to 100%.
¶ 53 Nevertheless, we find as the Board did, that Fairmount’s handle should not be included
in “total handle” for the purposes of calculating “aggregate proportion of total handle.” The
legislature specifically directed in section 54.5(b)(2)(A) that Fairmount would receive 11%
of the 40% share of the Fund intended for the improvement, maintenance, marketing and
operation of racing facilities. Fairmount was the only licensee to which section 54.5(b)(2)(A)
could ever apply and the legislature included that section specifically to provide Fairmount
with a set percentage of the Fund. And, because Fairmount was already receiving a share of
that 40%, the legislature directed that it could not also receive a share of the remaining 89%
of that 40%.
¶ 54 Section 54.5(b)(2)(B) provides that the remaining 89% will be distributed to “any person
*** who (i) had majority operating control of a racing facility at which live racing was
conducted in calendar year 2002, (ii) is a licensee in the current year, and (iii) is not eligible
to receive monies under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (2).” (Emphasis added.) 230
ILCS 5/54.5(b)(2)(B) (West 2006). Section 54.5(b)(2)(B)(iii) can only apply to Fairmount,
because Fairmount is the only licensee who can ever collect under section 54.5(b)(2)(A).
Section 54.5(b)(2)(B)(iii) was specifically included in the statute to make sure that Fairmount
did not receive two distributions from the Fund. It is entirely logical to exclude Fairmount’s
handle from “total handle” because it had already received monies from the Fund and the
legislature specifically directed it should not receive a second share.
¶ 55 Notwithstanding plaintiff’s argument to the contrary, the Board’s interpretation does not
treat Fairmount differently from Suburban and Associates. Unlike the handle generated by
Suburban and Associates, Fairmount’s handle is not excluded from “total handle” just
because it does not meet one of the eligibility requirements of section 54.5(b)(2)(B). Its
handle is excluded because, although it met the eligibility requirements in sections
54.5(b)(2)(B)(i) and (ii), it had already been awarded a substantial share of the Fund pursuant
to section 54.5(b)(2)(A). Then, to make sure that Fairmount could not double-dip from the
Fund, the legislature specifically took Fairmount’s eligibility under sections 54.5(b)(2)(B)(i)
and (ii) away by adding section 54.5(b)(2)(B)(iii). Because Fairmount had collected monies
under section 54.5(b)(2)(A), the legislature eliminated any possibility of Fairmount’s
collecting again under section 54.5(b)(2)(B). Fairmount was ineligible for a section
54.5(b)(2)(B) distribution because the legislature took its eligibility away, not because, as
with Suburban and Associates, it was never eligible in the first place.
¶ 56 Lastly, we consider whether the Board erred in not including the 2004 and 2005 handle
generated by the Springfield State Fair, the Du Quoin State Fair and the Brown County Fair
in its calculation of “total handle.” Using the state fair handle shown in the record, adding
that handle to the “total handle” used by the Board to generate a new total handle and then

-13-
approximating the relevant percentages, the 2004 and 2005 handle generated by the fairs was
as follows:
Springfield State Fair $2,309,153 handle = .11% of new total handle
Du Quoin State Fair $1,359,401 handle = .066% of new total handle
Brown County Fair $46,921 handle = .0026% of new total handle.7
¶ 57 The record appears to show that the state fairs each had majority operating control of a
racing facility in 2002, were organization licensees in the “current year”/year of
distribution/2009 and were not eligible for monies under section 54.5(b)(2)(A). Each was
thus eligible for a distribution from the Fund under section 54.5(b)(2)(B). If the fairs are
entitled to a distribution from the Fund, Springfield would receive an approximate
distribution from the Fund of $29,953.01; Du Quoin, approximately $17,971.81; and Brown
County, approximately $707.98.
¶ 58 The Board/staff memorandum did not address the state fair handle or whether the state
fairs should receive a percentage of the Fund monies. The Board does little more on appeal,
stating merely that the share of handle generated by the fairs is de minimis and accounted for
less than one-sixth of one percent of wagering on live racing in Illinois in 2004 and 2005. We
grant that the handle generated by the fairs and the concomitant shares of the Fund are
minute in comparison with those of Arlington, Hawthorne, Maywood and Balmoral.
However, though the effect of the fairs’ handle may be negligible in its impact on the
distribution of shares to Arlington, Hawthorne, Maywood and Balmoral, it does not mean
that the fair handle is irrelevant. If the fairs meet the section 54.5(b)(2)(B) requirements, then
under the statute, they are entitled to a pro rata distribution of the Fund monies. The Board
is, therefore, ordered to amend its decision to address whether the state fairs are due a
distribution from the Fund and, if a distribution is due, correct its distribution calculation
accordingly.
¶ 59 In sum, the distribution calculation in section 54.5(b)(2)(B) is ambiguous. There are
arguments to be made for both the Board’s interpretation of that calculation and plaintiff’s
interpretation. However, the Board is charged with administering the Fund distributions
under that statute and has many years of experience in managing the racing industry in
Illinois. Accordingly, in our assessment of this ambiguous statute, we will defer to the
Board’s experience and expertise with the industry and with the legislature’s intentions
regarding that industry. We find the Board’s interpretation of section 54.5(b)(2)(B)
reasonable and supported by the legislature’s intent in passing the Fund legislation. We
affirm the Board’s decision regarding how distributions under section 54.5(b)(2)(B) should
be determined, i.e., its decision that handle generated by an ineligible licensee at a track
operated by an eligible licensee should be added to the handle of the eligible licensee for
purposes of calculating the pro rata share due the eligible licensee. However, we reverse the
Board’s actual distribution calculation of the pro rata shares because it does not reflect the

7
“Total Handle” is $2,068,043,694. Handle generated by the fairs is $3,715,475. Added
together, the new total handle is $2,071,759,169. Combined fair handle accounts for .1786% of new
total handle.

-14-
handle generated by the state fairs and the concomitant share of the Fund monies that state
fairs should receive.

¶ 60 CONCLUSION
¶ 61 For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court’s order affirming the decision of the Board
is affirmed in part and reversed in part.

¶ 62 Affirmed in part and reversed in part.

-15-

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/3148138. Public record. Not legal advice.