On Saturday April 3, Horsin' Around TV, a combination magazine show servicing both the harness and Thoroughbred industries, will air a one hour special highlighting the Illinois Derby. Dave Gutfreund, the show's regular Thoroughbred analyst, and the Daily Racing Form's Marcus Hersh will join producer and host Joe Kristufek, and they will break down Hawthorne's key Triple Crown prep. The last two runnings have produced the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, War Emblem, and the 2003 Travers Stakes and Super Derby victor, Ten Most Wanted.

Award-winning feature reporter Liane Davis has produced an extensive piece that will tackle the critical issue of the lingering racetrack equity fund, and the possibility of installing slot machines at the track. The wide-ranging presentation will be highlighted by interviews with the issue's major players, including Illinois state representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie), Arlington president Cliff Goodrich, Hawthorne director of operations Thomas F. Carey III, Balmoral Park president Johnny Johnston, Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association president and Thoroughbred trainer Joe Kasperski, Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association president and Chicago's leading harness driver, Tony Morgan, and Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Board member and Illinois trainer and breeder Chris Block.

The feature will also include segments from Evangeline Downs, a Lousiana track which has flourished with the addition of slots, and New Hampshire's Rockingham Park, where the failure to pass slot legislation has seemingly doomed one of America's most storied racetracks.

"We have enough information to do an hour-long show just on this subject alone," Davis said. "This is a critical time in Illinois racing, and the legislators need to understand what this industry brings to the table."

The broadcast will also include an interview with Todd Pletcher, who sends out potential Illinois Derby favorite Pollard's Vision on Saturday; Pletcher trains four viable contenders for the 2004 Kentucky Derby on May 1, including Limehouse, Value Plus, and Purge; Jim Miller's report on the recent transformation of the Illinois Derby into a major Triple Crown prep race; and the Daily Racing Form's "Race of the Week," highlighting the Santa Anita Derby; and Mike Antoniades' Harness Report will feature Saturday's $50,000 Bal-Cal Pick Four wager.

Horsin' Around TV airs Saturday mornings on Fox Sports Net Chicago at 5:30 a.m. (CDT) and again at 11 a.m. Typically, the show is re-aired at 11:30 a.m. over Hawthorne's local and national simulcast feed, but due to this week's extended one hour time the track will send out the show at 11 a.m. In addition, Youbet.com fires up the Hawthorne signal early and thus makes the program available to Internet viewers.

For more information on Horsin’ Around TV and the Illinois Derby, visit www.dakracing.com.