NEWS
Arlington Park to run 26 stakes, adds new race
Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 4:11 PM
Arlington Park is scheduled to host 26 stakes races in 2012, highlighted by the $1-million Arlington Million Stakes (G1) on August 18, pending approval by the Illinois Racing Board at its January 31 meeting.
The Million will be the centerpiece of the track’s International Festival of Racing card, also featuring the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares three years old and up, the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1), and the newly created $400,000 Arlington St. Leger Stakes for three-year-olds and older.
The Arlington St. Leger will be carded at 1 11/16 miles on the track’s turf course. The $150,000 Stars and Stripes Stakes (G3) on July 14 will serve as the prep race.
“We are extremely proud to be able to launch a new race with the Arlington St. Leger,” said Arlington Park General Manager Tony Petrillo. “This is an historic race in Great Britain, the third leg of the English Triple Crown. We are honored to be able to name our race after that classic. It strengthens our relationships with the international racing community and we are sure this race will be very popular with the American racing fans.”
On July 14, Arlington will host Million Preview Day, featuring prep races for the races on the Arlington Million card. In addition to the Stars and Stripes, the day’s races will also include the $200,000 Arlington Handicap (G3) as a prep for the Million, the $200,000 Modesty Handicap (G3) as a prep for the Beverly D., and the $200,000 American Derby (G3), the second leg of the Mid-America Triple with the Secretariat, and the $100,000 Arlington Classic Stakes on May 26.
The $150,000 Arlington Oaks (G3) will return to the stakes schedule after a one year absence. The 1 1/8 mile race for three-year-old fillies is scheduled for July 21.
Purses for the 2012 racing season will benefit from a boost by the influx of money from the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund, generated by the state’s riverboat casinos, including a $100,000 increase for the Secretariat.
Arlington Park 2012 graded stakes schedule
|
Date |
Race |
Sex, age |
Distance |
Purse |
|
May 19 |
Hanshin Cup H. (G3) |
3yo&up |
1 mile |
$150,000 |
|
May 26 |
ArlingtonMatron S. (G3) |
F&M, 3yo&up |
1 1/8 miles |
$150,000 |
|
June 30 |
ChicagoH. (G3) |
F&M, 3yo&up |
7f |
$150,000 |
|
July 14 |
Stars and Stripes S. (G3) |
3yo&up |
1 ½ m (Turf) |
$150,000 |
|
July 14 |
ArlingtonH. (G3) |
3yo&up |
1 ¼ miles (Turf) |
$200,000 |
|
July 14 |
Modesty H. (G3) |
F&M, 3yo&up |
1 3/16 miles (Turf) |
$200,000 |
|
July 14 |
AmericanDerby(G3) |
3yo |
1 3/16 miles (Turf) |
$200,000 |
|
July 21 |
ArlingtonOaks (G3) |
F, 3yo |
1 1/8 miles |
$150,000 |
|
August 18 |
Secretariat S. (G1) |
3yo |
1 ¼ miles (Turf) |
$500,000 |
|
August 18 |
BeverlyD. H. (G1) |
F&M, 3yo&up |
1 3/16 miles (Turf) |
$750,000 |
|
August 18 |
ArlingtonMillion S. (G1) |
3yo&up |
1 ¼ miles (Turf) |
$1-million |
|
September 1 |
WashingtonParkH. (G3) |
3yo&up |
1 1/8 miles |
$150,000 |
|
September 8 |
Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) |
2yo |
1 mile |
$150,000 |
|
September 8 |
Arlington-WashingtonLassie S. (G3) |
F, 2yo |
1 mile |
$150,000 |
|
September 15 |
Pucker Up S. (G3) |
F. 3yo |
1 1/8 miles (Turf) |
$175,000 |
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Mary, Pitt, MA on January 24, 2012 at 06:24 PM
Just a suggestion, but I'd make the new St Leger for 3-year-olds only, increase the trip, run it a month after the Secretariat, and have a Turf Triple Crown starting with the American Derby, then the Secretariat and finally the St Leger. It would be a great way to increase interest in turf racing in the US and would be good for horses that are unsuccessful in the Triple Crown but go on to excel on the grass.
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