Derby List Last 200 Messages

[Terry Bjork via Derby]

In the time I have been on the Derby List, starting 1994, Arlington Park was going to close several times. First in 1995, but then didn't, and then did close after 1997.

It reopened in 2000 after being rescued by Illinois government intervention in 1999, only to be sold immediately by DD to Churchill Downs only a month into that 2000 meet. Then the racing-oriented CDI of Tom Meeker morphed into the new casino oriented CDI that it is today, and it has been all downhill for poor Arlington Park. (Though Mr. Duchossois made out quite well with all that CHDN stock.)

Now it's finally finally finally gone, reportedly sold by CDI to the Chicago Bears instead of any other racing entity. CDI has a majority interest in a nearby casino and, according to many people, didn't want to sell to a horse racing interest that might exercise the casino option that Illinois lawmakers recently gave the tracks.

Those first two times it was supposedly closing I felt real bad, but this time it's primarily a big eh and so what relief it's finally over, after all the drama and misery inflicted on Illinois racing in general plus fans and horsemen, by Arlington ownership and management over the past 25 years. Yeah I will miss the track as such, but nothing else associated with it.

Bloodhorse has a short obituary.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/253565/somber-feel-as-arlington-hits-the-finish-line


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