Arlington Million: the field

[Grits]

The one race a year that folks (handicappers and fans alike) still look at Arlington. .... They do. Right?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/93639/chad-brown-duo-tops-full-million

[horses4courses]

The racing at Arlington is a shadow of what it used to be.
Still, this looks to be a wide open G1, and hopefully the under card is good.

Here's how the UK books are betting the race,
with Big Blue Kitten a lukewarm favorite:

http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-post-racing/international/arlington-million/winner

[Stoleitbreezing]

I'm going again this Saturday to catch the races. Last year was a terrible short field, albeit the biggest longshot won, this year the field is much larger. I'm interested to see where others land, as there isn't the Group 1 or Group 2 winning Euro entered this year.

[thespaah]

" A motley crew of international contenders"...
What the hell happened to this sport that a horse racing writer working at a major Thoroughbred publication has to resort to referring to a group of horses entered in a Million dollar event as "motley"?

[Wiley]

" A motley crew of international contenders"...
What the hell happened to this sport that a horse racing writer working at a major Thoroughbred publication has to resort to referring to a group of horses entered in a Million dollar event as "motley"?
That is a pretty pathetic statement. Yes the Euros in here are not top of the heap, but how many times have we seen average Euros excel here in the States, Main Sequence last year comes to mind.

Looks like a pretty interesting race to me, with a lot of good possible betting opportunities.
The writer is Claire Novak, does some of the handicapping videos on the site as well.

[Stoleitbreezing]

Claire usually does great work for BH, I especially enjoyed reading her feature piece on Arlington Park and Mr. D a few months back. I'm assuming those words were meant to be witty but failed. I'll forgive the poor choice of words.

[Grits]

That is a pretty pathetic statement. Yes the Euros in here are not top of the heap, but how many times have we seen average Euros excel here in the States, Main Sequence last year comes to mind.

Looks like a pretty interesting race to me, with a lot of good possible betting opportunities.
The writer is Claire Novak, does some of the handicapping videos on the site as well.

Not only is it pathetic? It's unwarranted. For this reason, Blood Horse should take down (or edit) the piece.

It's not rare that Claire Novak's musing is overwrought. Unprofessional.

[castaway01]

Not only is it pathetic? It's unwarranted. For this reason, Blood Horse should take down (or edit) the piece.

It's not rare that Claire Novak's musing is overwrought. Unprofessional.

How is "motley" an insult that needs to be edited, much less "pathetic" or "unwarranted"? Do you not know the meaning of the word?

[Steve 'StatMan']

Sigh. One Million Dollars isn't what it used to be. OTOH the one year they made it $2mil it sure seemed like a waste.

[Tom]

GRITS, thanks for the link.
I will be playing.

btw, AP is a great track to play day in day out. :ThmbUp:

[Grits]

How is "motley" an insult that needs to be edited, much less "pathetic" or "unwarranted"? Do you not know the meaning of the word?

Yes. I do.

Here's one of Mr.D's quotes from the feature that Novak wrote last year at this time....and her feature, by the way, is good.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/features/man-behind-the-million-653

However, in this instance, with all the words one could choose. Be honest, would you really like for horses pointing to and entering your $1,000,000. signature event referred to as a "motley crew"?

I'm sorry, we don't agree. Maybe you're dating her.... :lol:


Today the International Festival of Racing, anchored by the Million, also features the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) for 3-year-olds, the Beverly D. (gr. IT) for older fillies and mares, and the $400,000 St. Leger Stakes, a distance race for 3-year-olds and up — all run on the lawn. The Million has attracted starters from Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, South Africa, South America, and the United Arab Emirates. Horses bred in Argentina and Brazil have also participated for U.S. connections.

“It gets good coverage in the European market,” Mr. D said. “If it gets good coverage over there and we have good horses running here, they’re advertising us. It brings buyers for horses over here; it keeps our name out in front. “

[PoloUK6108]

Who's to blame for the pitiful racing at Arlington? CDI? Illinois racing board? Is it the next Hollywood? Sure be a shame to close such a nice facility..

[Stoleitbreezing]

Who's to blame for the pitiful racing at Arlington? CDI? Illinois racing board? Is it the next Hollywood? Sure be a shame to close such a nice facility..

Most of what I read its CDI who's been against the horsemen and the IRB. They've continued to butt heads on several fronts.

[Steve 'StatMan']

Illinois Politicians, who have kept partially approving slots but then various higher ups (governors, attorney generals, etc.) pull the rug out from under racing. Been happening since 1999. Now nearly all other states have slots, and in IL the existing casinos and now some bar-based video gaming have oversaturated the market. Don't know that this 16 year old bandage will help if it ever does get applied to our wounds.

[Stoleitbreezing]

The state of IL and its politicians are one of the most corrupt bunch in the US. Cleaning up local gov't and electing those who will actually work with others across the table is the only way to save/improve IL racing. Sadly, this likely will never happen.

[Grits]

http://timeformusblog.com/2013/06/26/enhanced-foreign-running-lines/

One of the ways that TFUS excels? Their delivery of data on the Euros is more indepth than all others. The link gives additional info.

[Stillriledup]

Where are all the horses at this place? I don't remember so many 5 horse fields there.

[no breathalyzer]

Arlington has been a complete embarrassment this yr, it real hard to swallow being its my home track. i don't even watch racing there anymore, pathetic .. basically from when i have watched it the same 3 '' super trainers'' wining everything in 5 horse fields.. quarter horsing to the lead as there is a no passing zone on there worn out rubber synthetic bs of a main track.. if that's not bad enough earlier in the meet seemed like almost any decent grass race was washed off.

I'm not betting a dime on million day f**k them!!!

[no breathalyzer]

I forgot to mention who ever clocks the turf racing there is a complete moron or drunk.. times mean absolute shit on the lawn at Arlington park.

[Tom]

No real TV coverage from what I can find.

[moneyandland]

Motley speaks nothing of ability its meant to be used as diverse, assorted. Websters defines it as made up of many different people or things. Your misunderstanding of the word doesn't mean it was used incorrectly.

[porchy44]

I am going to get a get a pizza man and watch the race.

[ebcorde]

Arlington has been a complete embarrassment this yr, it real hard to swallow being its my home track. i don't even watch racing there anymore, pathetic .. basically from when i have watched it the same 3 '' super trainers'' wining everything in 5 horse fields.. quarter horsing to the lead as there is a no passing zone on there worn out rubber synthetic bs of a main track.. if that's not bad enough earlier in the meet seemed like almost any decent grass race was washed off.

I'm not betting a dime on million day f**k them!!!

I used to go there, The most beautiful race track I've been too. Like flower gardens at a french villa. The million looks like a great betting race. I like the day , I get to browse european sites to get thier perspective. so far they're really keen on all the Euros, they think the American field is weak this year. we will see. And for a rare time betfair's oddsline will be useful in the US.

[Tom]

Tough card. This is going to be a good day of racing. :ThmbUp:

[Steve 'StatMan']

I forgot to mention who ever clocks the turf racing there is a complete moron or drunk.. times mean absolute shit on the lawn at Arlington park.

The Placing Judges, who are already very busy, also have the duty of operating the timer. The true morons are the executives that want to save money and don't care about the integrity of racing data.

[Tom]

I am going to get a get a pizza man and watch the race.

Pretty good pizza ya got there. :D

[iceknight]

I am going to get a get a pizza man and watch the race. What were your toppings EXACTALY? :) :ThmbUp:

[SandyW]

The Pizza Man delivered a big fat winner. Yes, I was out to lunch when the delivery arrived.

[depalma113]

Wife hit the pick 4 thanks to the DQ in third leg.

The Pizza Man delivered!

[porchy44]

Blind squirrel finds acorn

[Tom]

And pizza! :ThmbUp:

[Capper Al]

This is just a foreshadowing of the Breeders' Cup. God save me. I like international racing, but can't seem to figure it out.

[classhandicapper]

This is just a foreshadowing of the Breeders' Cup. God save me. I like international racing, but can't seem to figure it out.

The one insight I can offer you about the imports is that it seems like more of them don't "fire" their "A" races than the typical top horse. So if there are 2-3 really good ones in the US race, if you focus too much attention on what appears to be the best one, you may be on an underlay and watch the 2nd or 3rd best one win at a good price.

[Capper Al]

The one insight I can offer you about the imports is that it seems like more of them don't "fire" their "A" races than the typical top horse. So if there are 2-3 really good ones in the US race, if you focus too much attention on what appears to be the best one, you may be on an underlay and watch the 2nd or 3rd best one win at a good price.

Good point.