 Early in 1987, Balmoral Park was sold to the family of George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, and a group of local track operators headed by Billy Johnston and his sons John and Duke.That same year, Illinois became the first state to permit race tracks to own and operate off-track betting facilities.Balmoral Park opened Illinois' first OTB parlor, located in Peoria on September 8, 1987.