Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414

Balmoral Park teams with USMC Reserve in Toys for Tots Campaign

Balmoral Park, Chicagoland’s premier horse racing facility featuring harness racing, has partnered with the USMC Reserve (United States Marine Corp. Reserve) for their 2009 Toys for Tots campaign.

Effective immediately through December 19, 2009 any patron who donates a new, unwrapped toy to the Toys for Tots campaign at Balmoral Park will receive a free $2 wager. In addition on Saturday December 19, the night Balmoral Park will present their collection of toys to the USMC Reserve; Balmoral Park will also donate $1 from every draft Budweiser product sold onsite that evening.

“Toys for Tots is something we at Balmoral are very much behind,” says GM/Controller Mike Belmonte. “Every kid should have a new toy for Christmas and we want to do what we can to make that happen.”

“Mike is absolutely right,” adds GM/Simulcast Director Jim Hannon. “Having been part of the community for 83 years, this community is very important to us. This is just one way we can give back to some of the needy kids in our community and help make their Christmas a little better.”

Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to Balmoral Park and donate it at one of the two HorsePlayer Plus Rewards booths during any live racing night between now and December 19. At that time a HorsePlayer Plus Rewards staff member will present them with their free $2 voucher.

“Naughty or nice, Santa has always been the one sure bet for kids,” says Hannon. “There’s no reason that shouldn’t be the case for everybody.”

ABOUT BALMORAL PARK: Located in Crete, IL just 12 miles south of 80/94; Balmoral Park has been one of the nations premier horse racing facilities since 1926. Balmoral Park features live racing every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and Parking is always free.

ABOUT TOYS FOR TOTS: The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.