HR1375 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1375 LRB098 23464 GRL 62610 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Marc Laino on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Illinois Racing Board after 31 years of dedicated public service; and

WHEREAS, Marc Laino has been a member of the Illinois Racing Board since 1987, holding the positions of Deputy Director, State Director of Mutuels, Board Investigator, and most recently Executive Director; and

WHEREAS, Marc Laino was instrumental in moving the Board's drug testing program to the University of Illinois at Chicago's Animal Forensic Toxicology laboratory in 2004 to protect animal health and uphold the integrity of the Board's equine drug testing program; and

WHEREAS, Marc Laino represented the Illinois Racing Board on legislation, House Bill 1918, which assisted Illinois racetracks and horsemen by creating the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund and added a 3% tax on riverboats that grossed more than $200 million in 2006; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, Marc Laino amended the Board's medication rules to include the testing of anabolic steroids in racehorses, and simultaneously worked to get out-of-competition testing approved; and

WHEREAS, Marc Laino represented the Illinois Racing Board on legislation in 2008, House Bill 4758, which required 4 Illinois casinos to pay 3% of their adjusted gross revenue to the horse racing industry; and

WHEREAS, Marc Laino acted as the Board's representation on legislation legalizing advanced deposit wagering in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Marc Laino has chaired the Association of Racing Commissioners International Wagering Systems Security Committee; in April of 2014, he was named the recipient of the 2014 Len Foote Award by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, the highest honor bestowed upon racing commission executive directors in North America; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and thank Marc Laino for his 31 years of service on the Illinois Racing Board and we wish him all the best in his much deserved retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Marc Laino as a symbol of our esteem and respect.