The horse race scheduled for this year will not be held at Arlington Park, but the Arlington Million will still take place at the venue.
in Kentucky.
Yes, that is accurate. This year will mark the first time since 1988 that the Arlington Million will take place outside of Illinois. The Arlington Million is considered the premier event at Arlington Park and was the first race to offer a million-dollar prize.
Churchill Downs has sold Arlington Park to the Chicago Bears and will now host the race at their main track in Louisville on Aug. 13. Additionally, there are discussions about potentially introducing sports betting at Kentucky horse tracks in the near future.
The Mayor of Arlington Heights, Tom Hayes, revealed conflicting feelings about the news.
I don’t mind if they are honoring the Duchossois family, but it’s curious that they would do so after selling the property.
Richard Duchossois, a previous owner of Arlington Park, passed away earlier this year.
Churchill Downs showed a lack of interest in supporting horse racing in Illinois and expanding gambling options at Arlington Park in recent years. When the track was put up for sale in early 2021, buyers with a focus on horse racing were not given much attention.
One possible explanation is that Churchill Downs, as the majority owner of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, may have sought to prevent the creation of new competition in the area. What could be the reason behind this decision?
Alternatively, Arlington Park could evolve into a significant sports venue.
most recent information on Arlington Park and the Bears
Churchill Downs and The Bears have agreed to a $197 million purchase deal, with Arlington Heights being considered as a potential location to boost the local economy.
Mayor Hayes announced that the project has moved beyond the theoretical phase, with the Bears enlisting Manica Architecture to create plans for a potential site.
Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill, anticipates that the agreement will be completed by the first quarter of 2025. Therefore, it will be some time before we receive any standard information.
In a recent presentation, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot made a compelling case for why the Bears should stay in Chicago, even suggesting the idea of installing a roof on Soldier Field. Despite previously showing sarcasm towards the possibility of the Bears relocating to the suburbs, Lightfoot has since changed her stance.
Ted Phillips, President of the Bears, declared in January:
“There is no comparable location in Chicagoland,” they declared. “The potential for this site is limitless, and we are optimistic that with an agreement in place, we can turn it into an extraordinary destination.”
There aren’t many horse racing choices in Illinois.
Moving the Arlington Million to Kentucky underscores the dwindling horse racing opportunities in Illinois.
FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing can be found in Collinsville, while Hawthorne Race Course is located in Stickney. That is all for the locations.
Chris Block, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, declared:
In order to achieve the legislature’s objective of expanding horse racing, improving gaming options, and creating more job opportunities within our sport and industry, it is essential to establish a new track in Illinois.
Churchill Downs has not disclosed its detailed plans for the opening of a second horse track in Illinois.
