[Condor51]

Believe it or not but that part of IL, starting at the Northern Border of C_rook County, with Lake County is 'Horse Country' and prolly on par with Kentucky. And it's BIG MONEY and a powerful lobbying bloc.

So powerful that the 'Horse People' were able to stop the extension of an Expressway (Tollway actually), and it was a much needed extension due to suburban growth₍₁₎. Plus the 'Horse People' are downright ruthless, like Wiseguys on Horses instead of in Caddy's and with Custom hand made Saddles instead of Pinky Rings.

The 'Horse People' even have their own Hitmen. A 'few' (10?) years back one tough guy and 'Horsey' scam artist Richard Baily was linked to the cold-case Murder of 'Candy Heiress' Helen Brach and of the Murder of the Schuessler - Peterson boys back in 1955! Us kids were all warned about the danger of 'strangers' then and we were watched like hawks for some time by our parents.

So this is not surprising to me. IMO anyone involved in or part of the 'Horse People Community' are suspect of some crime. Insurance Fraud is a fave of theirs. They'll whack an older or 'useless' horse of theirs for the insurance money.

(1) Go to Google or Bing maps for Lombard, IL (+/-26 miles directly West of Chicago), find I-355 (Tollway) and follow it North. It will turn into I-290 (free 'Expressway') still going North, then it abruptly ENDS at Lake-Cook Road. The 'Horse People' did this as that's where 'their territory' starts.

[Liz]

Thanks for the bgrnder-——interesting.

I also recall when they exposted these rich horsemen for insurance fraud——hiring lowlifes to savagely electrocute their prize horses for ins/money.

[SierraWasp]

I was born and raised a little southwest of there. Now I've landed in between the Capitols of the golden state and the silver state. We have horse people here too! They are just as ruthless here as they have been there!!

Having been involved in local politics over a decade ago, I was made fully cognizant of the long reach of these folks. Now they've started transporting their dope inside straw bales carried in their horse trailers.

Hey! It's only business, right???