blueline
EOG Master
now thats a better story than mine LOL
Arlington memories
- Thread starter blueline
- Start date
now thats a better story than mine LOL
blueline
EOG Master
for TB you could usually find a shell game on the Laramie Ave side between the track and that little donut/hot dog type place just north of the track
$100 to win. But I did have a $10 exacta.
The story doesn't end there. It was late in the year and with no racing in Chicago in January and much of February, we sent the filly to a farm. I don't think they fed her because when we got her back in March, she lost at least 100 pounds. Due to the weight loss and layoff, we went back to the $7500 level (NW3 lifetime). Now we were 6/5 and the horse dueled most of the way and got run down late and ran second. She ended up getting claimed.
I had a hard time convincing Chicago racetrack management to show sporting events on their television sets.
The mentality back then was to keep your captive racetrack audience focused on the gambling product.
I remember buying a portable television (five-inch screen?) in the mid-1980s to watch the Celtics battle the Lakers while watching speedy Childewood Hanover and late-charging Timely's Best Man battle in the free-for-all division at Sportsman's Park.
Those were the days.
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A casino named Wind Creek is being built near the site of the old Washington Park.
The sign says "Coming soon" but I don't consider early 2025 as "soon."
Casino grounds are shared by Chicago suburbs Homewood and East Hazelcrest.
blueline
EOG Master
In a move that likely will bring an end to a storied racing history in Northern California, The Stronach Group announced July 16 that it will close Golden Gate Fields at the end of the 2023 race meet.
In making the announcement officials with the Stronach Group said they hope the move invigorates racing in Southern California, where The Stronach Group owns Santa Anita Park and the San Luis Rey Downs training center.
In making the announcement officials with the Stronach Group said they hope the move invigorates racing in Southern California, where The Stronach Group owns Santa Anita Park and the San Luis Rey Downs training center.
I'm trying to think of how many tracks I've been to that have closed: Arlington, Hialeah (as far a t-bred racing), Hoosier (no t-bred racing), Beulah, River Downs, Bay Meadows and now Golden Gate Fields. For harness, add Maywood to the list. And Dairyland for dogs.
Viejo Dinosaur
EOG Master
Sad story…Bay Meadows and now Golden Gate…what’s next?
FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
Forgot about Washington Park.
blueline
EOG Master
More information for anyone interested
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com
Greg Ferraro Q&A: Northern California Racing 'Necessary' For Racing's Viability
Sunday's news that The Stronach Group (TSG) will close its flagship Northern California racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, at the end of the year has ripped through the state racing industry like a cannon shot. It has left owners, breeders, trainers, grooms and a whole multitude of individuals whose...
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com
blueline
EOG Master
FWIW
He is the last surviving member of the four partners who purchased the legacied local oval from Gulf & Western in the summer of 1983. The others were: Dick Duchossois, Sheldon Robbin and Joe Joyce.
Duchossois subsequently bought out all others and was sole proprietor from 1986-1999. He then merged into Churchill Downs Inc. and his play palace -- shuttered following the 1997 season - reopened in 2000.
BUT ROSS IS STEADFASTLY REFUSING to extinguish the last flicker of hope that live thoroughbred racing could ever return to the Arlington grounds.
"An awful lot would have to fall right," said Ross, always a sharp, affable and direct man. "But as long as they don't mess with the racing surfaces (main track and turf), we could certainly still have a festival meet up and running once the Bears let it be known what they're going to do with the land."
The ultimate intent of the Bears is the wavering "X" factor.
If they decide to forge ahead and build on the AP land, Ross's vision is diminished.
If they don't -- or remain in limbo -- his rallying imagination gains traction.
"We'd lease and that's just a question of from who," said the savvy industrialist, who made his fortune as the founder of North American Glass Industries and Construction Inc. "It'd be temporary stands and tents, more modern versions of what we did after the fire in 1985 and then for longer meets in 1986 and 1987.
"I'd estimate that it would cost about $10 million. We spent roughly $500,000 to hold 'The Miracle Million' 25 days after the fire back in 1985. So, it'd be a lot more in the next few years. But I can guarantee we have investor interest to handle all of that."
THE CORE THOUGHT OF ROSS centers on an annual festival of approximately 30 days beginning in mid-June. He projects that licensing from the Illinois Racing Board "would probably take about 20 minutes."
"Time is running out for a 2024 festival," he boldly declared. "Especially if the Bears' demolition of the main building isn't done until December. But if we had until June 2025 to get a festival rolling, this thing is 1,000 percent doable."
Ross sold North American Inc. in 1995. The firm was the general contractor for the 1985 Miracle Million, the 15-day Festival of Racing in 1986 and a three-month "tent meet" in 1987.
For the grand rebuild in 1988-89, Duchossois chose Jack McHugh -- an old pal from Morgan Park Academy -- and his family's construction firm as the general contractor. Ross and North American were a sub-contractor.
ROSS IS ALSO WELL AWARE that the faintest glimmer of hope that there could be live thoroughbreds again at Arlington will send thousands of local pulses racing.
"I completely understand how fans feel because I'm one of them" he said. "When we did that big build back in '88-'89, we built it like a fortress. By then it was all Dick's money and he wanted elegance and he wanted permanency. He got both. What's going on out there right now is terrible.
"With a little bit of luck and a whole lot of energy and focus, we can still turn some things around."
But one big Q.: Is he aware that the phrase "Against All Odds" has already been taken?
He is the last surviving member of the four partners who purchased the legacied local oval from Gulf & Western in the summer of 1983. The others were: Dick Duchossois, Sheldon Robbin and Joe Joyce.
Duchossois subsequently bought out all others and was sole proprietor from 1986-1999. He then merged into Churchill Downs Inc. and his play palace -- shuttered following the 1997 season - reopened in 2000.
BUT ROSS IS STEADFASTLY REFUSING to extinguish the last flicker of hope that live thoroughbred racing could ever return to the Arlington grounds.
"An awful lot would have to fall right," said Ross, always a sharp, affable and direct man. "But as long as they don't mess with the racing surfaces (main track and turf), we could certainly still have a festival meet up and running once the Bears let it be known what they're going to do with the land."
The ultimate intent of the Bears is the wavering "X" factor.
If they decide to forge ahead and build on the AP land, Ross's vision is diminished.
If they don't -- or remain in limbo -- his rallying imagination gains traction.
"We'd lease and that's just a question of from who," said the savvy industrialist, who made his fortune as the founder of North American Glass Industries and Construction Inc. "It'd be temporary stands and tents, more modern versions of what we did after the fire in 1985 and then for longer meets in 1986 and 1987.
"I'd estimate that it would cost about $10 million. We spent roughly $500,000 to hold 'The Miracle Million' 25 days after the fire back in 1985. So, it'd be a lot more in the next few years. But I can guarantee we have investor interest to handle all of that."
THE CORE THOUGHT OF ROSS centers on an annual festival of approximately 30 days beginning in mid-June. He projects that licensing from the Illinois Racing Board "would probably take about 20 minutes."
"Time is running out for a 2024 festival," he boldly declared. "Especially if the Bears' demolition of the main building isn't done until December. But if we had until June 2025 to get a festival rolling, this thing is 1,000 percent doable."
Ross sold North American Inc. in 1995. The firm was the general contractor for the 1985 Miracle Million, the 15-day Festival of Racing in 1986 and a three-month "tent meet" in 1987.
For the grand rebuild in 1988-89, Duchossois chose Jack McHugh -- an old pal from Morgan Park Academy -- and his family's construction firm as the general contractor. Ross and North American were a sub-contractor.
ROSS IS ALSO WELL AWARE that the faintest glimmer of hope that there could be live thoroughbreds again at Arlington will send thousands of local pulses racing.
"I completely understand how fans feel because I'm one of them" he said. "When we did that big build back in '88-'89, we built it like a fortress. By then it was all Dick's money and he wanted elegance and he wanted permanency. He got both. What's going on out there right now is terrible.
"With a little bit of luck and a whole lot of energy and focus, we can still turn some things around."
But one big Q.: Is he aware that the phrase "Against All Odds" has already been taken?