SB1608 Summary

• Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 to establish the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund, which receives 8.5% of privilege tax revenue from harness racing meetings starting in 1981.

• Requires harness racing licensees to conduct at least 2 races per program and a minimum of 6 races per week limited to Illinois-conceived and foaled horses, with races only featuring properly registered horses.

• Creates an Advisory Board composed of representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Illinois State Fair, Racing Board, standardbred owners and breeders associations, agricultural fairs, harness racing organizations, and horsemen's associations to administer the fund.

• Allocates fund expenditures for purses at state and county fairs, purse supplements for harness racing meetings, breeder awards (capped at 10%), facility improvements, administration costs, and promotion of harness racing (with at least 75% going to purses).

• Mandates that all drivers jogging, training, warming up, or driving standardbred horses at licensed race meetings and state fairs must wear a protective safety helmet meeting Snell Memorial Foundation standards or equivalent Illinois Racing Board-approved standards.