Lester: Potential coup unfolding at Arlington Park

A controversy is brewing between Arlington Park officials and the association that's long represented horse owners and trainers who race at the track.

Despite months of negotiations and with Arlington's May 6 opening day approaching, there's still no contract between Arlington and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. Now, a different horsemen's group is working to use that strained relationship to its advantage, I've learned.

Representatives of the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Federation - a similar, but less powerful group representing horsemen in the state - asked Arlington to enter into a contract with the organization late last week following a "secret ballot" vote taken by its board.

Illinois Racing Board Chairman Jeff Brincat was the one who tallied votes, raising some eyebrows about his involvement in the deal. Officials say a new partnership would lead to increased purses because the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Federation has lower overhead costs than the Illinois Thoroughbred Horseman's Association.

Potential coup

The move, if successful, could be a coup for 94-year-old Richard Duchossois, who's had a rocky relationship with Illinois Thoroughbred Horseman's Association President Mike Campbell for years. Partnering with a different group would cut the ITHA off from the share of purse money it would otherwise get, the main source of funding for the organization, and significantly hinder its ability to pay lobbyists' salaries and administer backstretch welfare programs.

"We're in the midst of mediation, we've acted in good faith to come to an agreement with the ITHA, and we'll continue to do that," Arlington General Manager Tony Petrillo said. "We expect that will continue until the racing board decides there is no agreement."

"All-inclusive" stalls

Highland Park's mayor says the city's new requirement to designate single-occupancy restrooms as gender neutral is a way of letting people know the city is "all-inclusive." The ordinance, approved out of consideration for the transgender community, was approved Monday by a unanimous vote by the Highland Park City Council.

The new requirement will apply to public toilet facilities in buildings issued building permits on or after May 1.

The move follows a measure put into place by Evanston last fall requiring businesses and other places of public accommodation to designate single-stall restrooms as gender-neutral.

Grave blessing

It's been a year since the death of Chicago Archdiocese Cardinal

Francis George, following his long struggle with cancer. At 2 p.m. next Thursday, Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich will bless the stone ledger covering the length of the area where George is buried next to his parents in All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. It was the cardinal's request to be buried with his leg brace, which he wore for more than 60 years after a childhood bout with polio left him with a weakened leg and a pronounced limp.

A first

Meanwhile, Barrington resident and father of four Brian Liedlich will be the first layperson to lead St. Viator Catholic High School in Arlington Heights. Liedlich, currently a member of the school's board of trustees, was named to the post this week to replace the Rev. Corey Brost, who plans to use his background as a lawyer to work with immigrants come June.

Made in China?

Reader Mike Foley of Des Plaines noticed the fundraising arm of the U.S. Olympic team is sending hats to donors manufactured in ... China.

"About once a month I receive a set of literature from the Olympic committee offering something with a minimum donation," he writes. "This time it was two hats with the American flag and the five Olympic rings on the cap. I sent in the $20.00 and got the caps within a couple of weeks. Though cheaply made, I thought they were worth the donation ... However, I looked inside the cap to see where the hats were made and (shock - mouth agape - hair standing on end - etc.) they were made in CHINA!"

Scrubbing statute

Two suburban lawmakers stepped up to co-sponsor legislation eliminating the term "alien" from Illinois statutes as a description of undocumented immigrants - an effort that began at the behest of high school students.

Eric Solorio Academy High School English teacher Wendy Hush says she was teaching students vocabulary words when the class reached the word "alien," which was defined as a citizen of another country. After some students expressed concern, the class began plotting ways to make a change and ultimately wrote about 80 letters to lawmakers in the General Assembly. The issue was taken up by Democratic Reps.

Linda Chapa LaVia of Aurora and

Jack Franks of Marengo. The measure, which would replace the term "alien" with "undocumented immigrant," passed the House with a bipartisan 98-11 vote and now sits in the Senate. Whether it passes or fails, Hush calls the effort a "really teachable moment."