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HBPA Asks Gov Stevenson To Mediate Purse Dispute DisputeSPORTSMANS SPORTSMANS PARK Cicero HI May 7 The Horsemens Benevolent and Pro ¬ tective Association appealed today to Gov Adlai E Stevenson to mediate their dispute on purses with the management of Sports ¬ mans Park In a letter sent to the states chief executive at Springfield the horse ¬ men said the findings released by the Il ¬ linois Racing Board following a hearing yesterday were a form of duress threat and intimidation intimidationThe The horsemen in their letter to Steven ¬ son accused the board of being prejudiced and state the transcript will reveal their inability to officiate impartially in a matter of this kind kindIn In a sixpoint release on its findings the board stated that it has power to act in the dispute that the public interest is involved that actions have been taken detrimental to the best interests of racing that the continuation of such actions will harm the states revenue that racing activities be resumed immediately and that if necessary another hearing will be called inquiring into possible viblation of Section 18 of the Illinois rules of racing with consequent disciplinary action actionThe The horsemen are asking that a purse distribution formula based on onehalf of the tracks share of the mutuel take be put into effect William H Johnston pres ¬ ident of Sportsmans Park states that he has increased the purses 4200 daily over the minimum promised of 16600 and that he believes the horsemen have been fairly dealt with Racing was last conducted at Sports ¬ mans Park last Saturday on which day horsemen shunned the entry bov for Mon ¬ days races No entries were filed Monday Tuesday or today todayPleas Pleas Ignored IgnoredConcluding Concluding its letter the HBPA stated We have asked the chairman of the Illi ¬ nois Racing Board or any one they may designate to act as a mediator in negotia ¬ tions But all have ignored our pleas We therefore appeal to you Governor Steven ¬ son at this time to act as a mediator and open negotiations to bring about the re ¬ sumption of racing racingFollowing Following is the letter sent by the HBPA to Governor Stevenson Honorable Adlai E Stevenson Governor Executive Mansion Springfield Illinois Dear Governor Stevenson StevensonWe We the horsemen at Sportsmans Park submit for your careful consideration the following statement from the Illinois Rac ¬ ing Board after a hearing conducted this morning without formal notification and due process of law 1 The Illinois Racing Board has been given the power to act in the situation1 in ¬ volving a cessation of racing activities un ¬ der Section 18 subsection 1 of the 1952 Illinois Rules and Regulations of Horse Racing 2 The public interest is involved be ¬ cause of great and continuing loss of rev ¬ enue to the state including the Service Recognition Bond Interest and Retirement Fund in the State Treasury the Agricul ¬ tural Premium Fund which includes cer ¬ tain sums for the purpose of assisting in the care and general rehabilitation of dis ¬ abled veterans of any war and their widows and orphans 3 The Illinois Racing Board is of the opinion that actions have been taken which are detrimental to the best interests of racing 4 The Illinois Racing Board is of the further opinion that continuation of such actions will greatly harm the states rev ¬ enue to the detriment of the public in ¬ terest 5 It is requested therefore by the Illi ¬ nois Racing Board that racing activities be resumed immediately 6 If necessary a further hearing will be scheduled after notice inquiring into possible violation of Section 18 with con ¬ sequent disciplinary action based on the findings It is the advice of competent counsel that this statement is a form of duress threat and intimidation on the part of the Illinois Racing Board to coerce us to re ¬ treat from our position in which we main ¬ tain that we have been duly delegated to negotiate for a more equitable purse dis ¬ tribution at Sportsmans Park We made a fair and just proposal to the management of Sportsmans Park ten days prior to the situation that now exists and have never at any time received a counter proposal Nor have they at any time during these ten days shown any disposition to negotiate We stand ready and willing now as al ¬ ways to negotiate with the management of Sportsmans Park in order to settle this dispute and assure you as the governor of the State of Illinois that we have done everything in our power to perpetuate the continuity of racing without sacrificing our rights in this situation situationWe We respectfully appeal to you to obtain a transcript of the hearing which we be ¬ lieve will reveal to you the prejudicial atti ¬ tude of the Illinois Racing Board ajid their inability to officiate impartially in a mat ¬ ter of this kind We have asked the chair ¬ man of the Illinois Racing Board or any one they may designate to act as a medi ¬ ator in negotiations But all have ignored our pleas We therefore appeal to you Governor Stevenson at this time to act as a mediator and open negotiations to bring about the resumption of racing racingSigned Signed VicePresident Joseph G Ko Kohout hout Central Division Horsemens Benevolent Protective ProtectiveAssn Assn AssnDr Dr Harry Lindy Member National Executive Board Horsemens Benev ¬ olent Protective Assn Tom Shehan Editor Horsemens Jour ¬ nal Official Publication of the HBPA Harold Hoffman Secretary Central CentralDivision Division of the HBPA Executive Committee John Beck W Hal Bishop E E Major Jr W Mikel and Frank Nugent
