 The Illinois State Fair, a late-summer mainstay in Springfield, will
take place Aug. 13-22.Amy Bliefnick, the fair's manager, said
she's had to make some adjustments because of the state's ongoing
fiscal troubles, which include a record $13 billion budget deficit.
"We have less staff than we've used, we use less summer help than
we've used, doing more with less. But you know, also when we're
booking entertainment, when we're booking animal acts, ... we try to
make sure we cut expenses where we can," she said.
Earlier this week, Gov. Pat Quinn announced a cumulative $1.4
billion in cuts across state agencies. The Illinois Department of
Agriculture, the agency that helps oversee the state fair, will lose
more than $6.4 million, or about 17.6 percent of last year's budget.
There were concerns that budget problems would have forced fair
planners to eliminate harness racing for this year's festivities.
The state was months late in paying the purses for victorious
harness racers from last year's state fair because of the state's
lack of cash.
John Cisna, with the Illinois Standardbred Owners & Breeders
Association, said last year's purses have now been paid in full and
that harness racing and pari-mutuel wagering will play their part in
this year's state fair.
But he believes the state's budget problems are affecting the
number of riders and trainers that will participate in this year's
races.
"The numbers will be down this year, but we'll have a full race
program, great champion horses, we'll have some great events," he
said.
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Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said
it's important to maintain harness racing at the state fair and
throughout Illinois.
"Horse racing -- you've got a trickle-down effect there. You're
paying the grooms; there's an employment factor that's there that's
very important. There's a feed-use factor that's very important. And
we have the facilities here," he said.
Jennings added that the state fairgrounds has a half-mile
training track that is used year-round and houses as many as 200
horses.
The state fair is known for food and festivities, but with just a
few months before November's general election, it will also serve as
a prime campaigning event for public officials and political
hopefuls.
Quinn and Democrats will shake hands on Governor's Day, Aug. 18,
while state Republican leaders will congregate at the fairgrounds
for Republican Day on Aug. 19.
For more information on the state fair, visit
http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By KEVIN LEE]
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