Horse Racing At Arlington Park May Be Done, But The Arlington Million Lives On… In Kentucky?

This year’s horse race won’t take place at Arlington Park, but the Arlington Million will still be held there.

within the state of Kentucky.

Indeed, that’s correct. This will be the first instance since 1988 where the Arlington Million will be held outside Illinois. This event is recognized as the signature event of Arlington Park. It holds the distinction of being the first animal civilization to generate a million dollars.

Churchill Downs is transferring ownership of Arlington Park to the Chicago Bears and has decided to host the race at its main track in Louisville instead. The event is scheduled for Aug. 13. There is also a possibility that sports betting could be introduced at Kentucky horse tracks soon.

Tom Hayes, the Mayor of Arlington Heights, expressed having mixed emotions about the news.

“Absolutely, I have no problem if they are doing it to honor the Duchossois family. However, it’s quite interesting that they would do that after selling the property.”

Earlier this year, Richard Duchossois, a former owner of Arlington Park, died.

In recent years, it was evident that Churchill Downs was not interested in maintaining horse racing in Illinois or introducing more gambling opportunities at Arlington Park. When they listed the track for sale in early 2021, potential purchasers interested in horse racing were not given serious consideration.

A plausible theory is that Churchill Downs, owning a majority stake in Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, didn’t want to generate competition. Why is this so?

Instead, Arlington Park may develop into a major sports arena.

most recent information on Arlington Park and the Bears

Churchill Downs and The Bears have entered into a purchase agreement worth $197 million. Arlington Heights is under consideration as it would significantly boost the economy of the village.

Mayor Hayes recently proclaimed that the process has gone well beyond the hypothetical stage. Recently, the Bears have engaged Manica Architecture to design the plans for a possible site.

Bill Carstanjen, the CEO of Churchill, expressed his expectation for the agreement to be finalized by the first quarter of 2023. Consequently, there will still be some time before we receive any standard information.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has presented her arguments for why the Bears should remain in Chicago, even proposing the possibility of adding a roof to Soldier Field. Although she previously had a sarcastic attitude regarding the Bears potentially moving to the suburbs, that is no longer her stance.

In January, Bears President Ted Philips stated:

“There is nothing else like it in Chicagoland,” they stated. “Therefore, the possibilities – we haven’t even begun to imagine what it could become. However, we’re optimistic that if we can reach an agreement, we’ll be able to progress in transforming it into an incredible destination site.”

There aren’t many horse racing choices in Illinois.

The relocation of the Arlington Million to Kentucky highlights the limited horse racing options remaining in Illinois.

FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing is located in Collinsville, and the Hawthorne Race Course is in Stickney. That concludes the list.

Chris Block, the president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, stated:

“To fulfill the legislature’s goal of broadening horse racing, enhancing gaming opportunities, and increasing job opportunities in our sport and industry, it underscores the need to establish a new track in Illinois.”

Churchill Downs has not yet revealed its specific plans for opening a second horse track in Illinois.