I\'ve read a few articles, but none seem to indicate why Churchill is doing this. Are they trying to protect the graded status of the stakes races?
What they should be doing is giving all the proceeds from the August 13 card to the Illinois Horsemen they screwed over. I think Churchill still owes them money.
Good timing.
ITHA vs CDI (https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Ill_horsemen_will_sue_Churchill_Downs_for_unpaid_Arlington_purses_123)
I wouldn\'t even know where to begin with the endless possibilities that CDI still may have for plans in Illinois, whether it's racing, casinos, or both. CDI has been a half-dozen chess moves ahead of the Illinois horseman and the state governing bodies for 20 +years.
The Chicago Bears are purchasing Arlington and their long-term betting partner is none other than Rivers Casino so nothing is out of the realm of possibility here with CDI (majority owner of Rivers). Professional teams in Illinois are allowed to build a sports book BUT the Bears do not own Soldier Field so they have to negotiate with the Chicago Park District as to the terms, which are not as favorable as owning your own facility outright.
That brings it back to square one if the Bears build a football stadium at the Arlington facility. CDI knows that the Bear ownership would build a casino on the Arlington Heights property so of course they'll want their hands in this without being the outright owner of a racetrack or football team. It's going to get more interesting with the Arlington deal in the next few years. "Thank you sir, may I have another"
My feelings about CDI aside, I am glad that the Arlington Million and the top stakes races have been preserved......at least for nostalgia sake.
arcadia123 Wrote:
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> My feelings about CDI aside, I am glad that the
> Arlington Million and the top stakes races have
> been preserved......at least for nostalgia sake.
That\'s true. I\'m just disappointed they didn\'t try to preserve the 2yo stakes. They could have killed two birds with one stone. Maybe three. Let\'s not forget Washington Park.
Churchill-Arlington-Washington Futurity
Churchill-Arlington-Washington Lassie
Re: Arlington Stakes Races
As a fan of the sport something has been bugging me for years that most of you will probably find silly.
No disrespect to Hanshin Racecourse, but don\'t mess with the \"Chocolate Soldier.\"
The Hanshin Stakes should always be known as the Equipoise Mile. Get your own stakes race, Hanshin. :-)
Racing should embrace it\'s rich history. Not abandon it.
Just my humble opinion as a racing fan.
Ray Paulick savaging Tony Petrillo a few months back.
https://paulickreport.com/news/view-from-the-eighth-pole-petrillo-deserves-chutzpah-award-for-gaslighting-of-illinois-racing-board/