Galloping Out: Re-homing our horses when they retire from racing at Arlington Park or Hawthorne Racecourse.
Wednesday March 24
One member of the Illinois Racing Board, author and journalist Alan Henry, had a lot to say about Churchill Downs Inc.'s decision to put Arlington Park up for sale at the monthly board meeting. According to the Chicago Daily-Herald, Henry called CDI's refusal to sell the property to another racing entity “a shortsighted and self-defeating posture” that would irreparably tarnish the company's brand.
Thursday March 18
With the track having been put up for sale and with parent company Churchill Downs Inc. failing to commit to a meet after this year's season, Arlington Park's days may be numbered. But there may be a flicker of hope. Mike Campbell, the president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, told the TDN that he knows of a number of companies and individuals interested in buying the track and keep it open for racing.
Tuesday March 09
The Arlington Million (G1T), the first Thoroughbred race to offer a $1 million purse at its inception in 1981, will be run Aug. 14 as the Mister D. Stakes for a diminished purse of $600,000 as Illinois' three remaining grade 1s will be named in honor of former Arlington International Racecourse owner Richard L. Duchossois and his family members.
Thursday February 25
Now that Arlington International Racecourse is officially for sale, the owners of Churchill Downs Inc. on Thursday reiterated their desire to relocate Arlington's horse racing operations elsewhere in Illinois, despite questions over the process to do so.
Tuesday February 23
Illinois thoroughbred owners and trainers appreciate the opportunity to race this year at Arlington Park, a world-class track, but are disappointed that Churchill Downs will renege on its longstanding promise to preserve and grow jobs in Illinois racing while also serving the best interests of Illinois taxpayers.
Tuesday February 23
Churchill Downs announced Tuesday that it has launched a process to sell Arlington Park, which sits on 326 acres of real estate 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
Tuesday January 26
As Covid mitigation guidelines continue to ease, allowing for casinos to resume operations, Hawthorne Race Course and PointsBet have been approved by the Illinois Gaming Board to open the State's first off-track and non-casino sportsbook beginning on Wednesday, January 27th. The newly remodeled Club Hawthorne in suburban Crestwood is part of Hawthorne's off-tracking betting (OTB) network, and is the first of three such OTB locations that will open under Illinois' sports betting law.
Saturday January 23
The Illinois Racing Board unanimously certified the dispersal of $12.2 million in recapture fees to the state's three horse racing tracks on Thursday ahead of the 2021 harness racing season.
Sunday January 17
New 12/13/20 photos from ITHA.
Wednesday January 13
Horse racing will be back up and running at Fonner Park in February, but in order for people to observe the races, officials are changing things up in order to comply with state and local ordinances.
Wednesday January 13
While Fonner Park is waiting for the Nebraska Gaming Commission to be established, the Grand Island racetrack is talking with companies that might run a gaming operation there once the system is in place.
Saturday January 09
With the Kentucky Supreme Court's decision that many Historical Horse Racing machines, the fuel that powers the state's racing circuit, do not constitute pari-mutuel wagering, the horse racing industry now faces problems.