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NEARLY ,000,000 FROM RACING How State of Illinois Profits Under Lager Law and Where the Money From This Source Is Spent Other Interesting- Data Racing has contributed the sum of ,904,282 to the State of Illinois during the past five years or since the Lager law, legalizing the pari-mtuel system was enacted. This large sum came from license fees and admission tax and was used in paying premiums at state and county fairs, for premiums at Vocational Fairs, and at 4-H Boys and Girls clubs exhibits held throughout the state. The interesting story of the substantial aid rendered to sfate enterprizes by thoroughbred racing is told under the caption of "Where Does the Money Come From?" which appeared recently in the columns of the Woodstock Daily Sentinel, McHenry countys leading and oldest newspaper and which vith the permission of Mr. Chas. F. Renick, the editor and author of the article, we are reproducing in full as follows: Where Does the Money Come From? Illinois pays a large proportion of the premium money paid to exhibitors at state and county fairs. Sixty-two county fairs in Illinois received state aid in 1931. Seven thousand five hundred students in public schools participated in premiums paid for by the State of Illinois through Vocational Agricultural Section Fairs. 4-H Boys and Girls club exhibits in Illinois, conducted by Farm Bureaus and Home Bureaus, were fostered by state funds. A total of 04,322.66 went to 62 county and district fairs in 1931 to assist in paying premiums. A total of 9,498.55 went to Vocational Fairs for use in paying premiums in 1931. Seven thousand five hundred school students are participants in these activities, including many in McHenry county. The amount of 4,316.76 was contributed for premiums at Boys and Girls 4-H club exhibits. In McHenry county over 500 boys and girls belong to these clubs. An Interesting Story The editor of the Woodstock Daily Sentinel has been asked for information as to where the money comes from for the payment of thousands of dollars of state aid premiums at State and County Fairs, for premiums at Vocational Section Fairs and at 4-H Club Exhibits held over the State of Illinois, each year. Not unlike the opinion which prevails with the public generally, it was our thought that this money comes from general taxation, but following a thorough investigation we find this is not the case, but instead that the money comes from the license fees paid by the several horse racing tracks in Illinois. In 1927 a new law went intp effect in Illinois which permits betting at horse races, when conducted under the supervision of the State Department of Agriculture. Under this law each race track pays into the state treasury certain license fees for each day it operates. This fee amounts to ,500 per day for each track within 25 miles of a city-of 500,000 or more and ,500 per day for tracks beyond this distance. In addition the track must pay 20 cents on each paid admission. In return for the payment of these fees betting on the races is permitted at these tracks, but only under strict state supervision. Previous to this law there was just as much betting done, but not under control or supervision and the state received no revenue from this source. Bookmakers plied their trade under cover with but little restraint. . During the five years beginning with July 1, 1927; there has been paid into a separate fund in the-state treasury the total sum of ,904,282, all coming from the race tracks. Under the law this money is appropriated and can only be used for the support of activities to develop and advance agriculture in Illinois, especially through premiums paid at state and county fairs and similar activities, which extend to sectional fairs and 4-H club exhibits. A resume of the money paid in by the several race tracks for each year and how some of this money has been disbursed will be interesting. There were six established tracks in Illinois during the five years since the law" has been in operation, as follows: Exposition Park, Aurora, Kane county. Washington Park, Homewood, Cook county. Arlington Park, Arlington .Heights, Cook county. Hawthorne, Stickney, Cook county. Lincoln Fields, Crete, Will county. Fairmount, Collinsville, Madison county. The following total amounts have been paid to the state for license fees and admission tax during the five years named: For 1927 ..36,559.60 For 1928 614,169.20. For 1929 638,628.40 For 1930 656,802.20 For 1931 ...558,122.60 Total for five years ,904,282.00 How Is the Money Spent? Our information as to how this money is being spent by the State of Illinois is limited to the appropriations for 1931 and 1932, and the amounts paid out for 1931, as follows: - For agricultural fairs exhibiting horticulture, agriculture, poultry, live stock, domestic and mechanical arts, the fifty-seventh General Assembly appropriated 20,000 for the two-year period. Of this sum 04,322.66 was paid in 1931 to sixty-two county and district fairs. Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars was appropriated for the payment of premiums at the state fair during 1931-1932. For Vocational Agricultural Fairs 5,000 was appropriated for the 1931-1932 period. Of this sum 9,498.55 was paid out in 1931. The primary purpose of these fairs is to increase the interest of the farm boy in his agricultural activities, to develop better stock and crops. It is hoped that better live stock and better crops will be the result of present efforts in behalf of these future farmers of Illinois. There are 7,500 students in vocational agriculture in the schools of Illinois. The agricultural department of the Woodstock Community High school, directed by W. P. Miller, derives benefit from this source. For the aid of the 4-H Club Boys and Girls the last General Assembly appropriated 0,000, which sum also comes from the race track fund. In 1931 there was paid 4,316.76 out of this appropriation. One hundred counties in 1931 competed for cash prizes paid from this fund. These 4-H club exhibits included live stock, grain, poultry and home economics, under the supervision of farm advisors in co-operation with the State and Federal Departments of Agriculture. One hundred farm advisors and 33 home advisors had charge of this work. About 500 boys and girls in McHenry county are members" of 4-H clubs. These figures show the liberal support to agricultural advancement and education which is now being fostered by the State of Illinois from a fund provided by race track supporters, instead of the money being drawn from direct taxation. It has been estimated that approximately 85 per cent of this race track money comes from non-taxpayers.
