Horsemen's Group Denied Injunction Against Arlington Racetrack

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL—A judge's decision Thursday in a federal lawsuit a horsemen's group filed against Arlington International Racecourse might have gone in the track's favor, but it doesn't change the possibility that horse racing might still be in jeopardy at the venue.

RELATED: Will Lawsuit Force Arlington Racecourse to Hold Its Horses This Year?

At a Thursday hearing, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, an organization that represents owners and trainers, was denied its temporary restraining order request that was part of a federal lawsuit filed Monday against Arlington, the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation and the Illinois Racing Board, the Arlington Heights Post reports.

In a statement earlier this week, the ITHA accused the three groups of engaging "in collusive conduct designed to replace the ITHA as the 'horsemen's group' under Illinois and federal law with the ITBOF for the contract Arlington needs in order to conduct live racing and simulcasting at Arlington Park for the 2016 summer meet."

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The judge denied the ITHA's request for an injunction because the ITBOF―a competing group representing horse breeders and owners that the ITHA claimed was in line to get a "sweetheart" contract deal from Arlington Racecourse―told the court during a hearing Wednesday that it had stopped negotiating with the track because it had become too expensive.

With the ITBOF out of the way, the ITHA no longer needed a restraining order, the Post reports. But the judge did tell the group it could ask for another injunction if another group entered the picture, the report added.

However, if the Arlington Heights racetrack and the ITHA don't agree to a new contract before the season opens May 6, horse racing at the track could be cancelled.

More via the Arlington Heights Post