Block Elected President of Illinois Horsemen's Group

Chris Block, a key member of a multigenerational breeding and racing family, has been elected president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, replacing 12-year incumbent Mike Campbell.

Block received 62% of the votes in a two-way race against the incumbent and will assume office Jan. 1.

"I'm going to do my very best to represent the horsemen to the best of my abilities," Block said after the results were announced Dec. 10. "We have to try to save this industry."

Block, a long-time ITHA director, said he decided to run for president to give owners and trainers a chance to vote for change.

"I submitted my nomination based on the thought that the time has arrived for fresh leadership in the position of president," Block said in a campaign statement.

"Our industry is in the most challenging era in Illinois horse racing history. If the membership feels like fresh leadership is warranted, I stand ready to take on the position of president with energy and dedication for the membership," Block's statement said.

Block and his family, operating as Team Block, are based near downstate Philo, IL. They race their own and client horses primarily in the Midwest, from the Chicago area through Kentucky and Louisiana.

"My dad started the business," Block told BloodHorse earlier in 2021. "My brother and my sister, she's involved even though she doesn't live in Illinois. When you refer to Team Block, it's the family. So it's my mom and dad and my brother and my sister and me."

He said at the time the family had "in the neighborhood of 40 or 50 head of horses right now, anywhere from broodmares to babies who've just been born to the weanlings, the 2-year-olds, and then the racehorse group that we have here at the track."

That number had declined over a decade, he said, because of declining purses and racing opportunities in the state. 

The challenges facing Illinois racing include the closing of Arlington International Racecourse, leaving Hawthorne Race Course as the only venue for live racing in the Chicago area. With development of a new harness track at a standstill, Hawthorne in 2022 will alternate hosting both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing, leaving fewer Thoroughbred racing dates in the Chicago area in the coming year.  

Those challenges will be compounded by the implementation of the new federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Administration Act, which will require quick decisions on key issues during 2022 on the part of state government, the Illinois Racing Board, tracks, and horsemen.

In other election results, Patti Miller, Tony Mitchell, and Tom Swearingen won election as trainer-directors. Incumbent Manny Perez was unsuccessful in seeking a new term.

Tom Fedro Sr. and Steve Holland ran unopposed for two owner-director positions.

The ITHA represents Chicago-area horsemen in negotiations with tracks and before the Racing Board. It lobbies on behalf of horsemen at the state Capitol in Springfield. Dave McCaffrey is the executive director.