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23 October 2008

Roll Da Bones

The bidding wars have started on who will get the 1oth and final casino license in Illinois.

Hawthorne Race Course is among the contenders and a sleeper choice. The last time this process was fitted for concrete shoes, the winning bidder had to withdraw due to...wait for it...mob ties!

Ditka is apparently associated with the Hawthorne racino group. The proposed racino/resort includes a water park, shopping mall, restaurants, hotels and, oh yeah, some revenue sharing for Illinois tracks(15%).

I have never patronized Ditka's restaurant but I have smoked one of his branded cigars and can say that they are an overpriced version of swisher sweets. His wine, I understand, is crap too.

The casino could be a success; right now the only choices are in the toxic waste dump that is NW Indiana or out of the way Joliet.

It remains to be seen if Illinois horsemen will benefit from this fustercluck.

Alysheba is returning to the U.S. Rep. Schakowsky must be so relieved. (10:50 mark) I wonder if it has anything to do with him being the oldest living KD winner?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Great news, Alysheba deserves a good retirement. The ghost of Ferdinand hovers when you're old enough to remember accolades and hoopla, well beyond the KY Derby, that wind up on a dinner plate.

Racing in IL would be better served by the ghost of Harry Carey, than by the motley assortment of money grubbers who have no interest in horse racing as an IL industry or for IL fans.

The Bid

The Bid
Greatest horse ever to look through a bridle