Arlington Park Finished

[upthecreek]

Just saw this on Twitter

[upthecreek]

https://www.dailyherald.com/amp-arti...mpression=true

[woodbinepmi]

SAD!

[The_Turf_Monster]

Just more political posturing by CDI unless there’s already a deal for the Bears to buy the land.

You can thank Mike Madigan if it closes, he’s spent the better part of 10+ years refusing to play ball with the Illinois horsemen and tracks on slots, then finally played ball when it was too late, 2 harness tracks closed, and Illinois thoroughbred tracks are running on fumes

[dilanesp]

Someone on my Twitter feed suggested Mattress Mac buy it and rename it Runhappy Downs.

[thaskalos]

When the Illinois legislature approved CDI's purchase of 61% of the nearby Rivers Casino...everyone with even half a brain realized that Arlington Park's days were numbered. The irony in all this is that the Illinois politicians are now calling CDI "greedy"...which is akin to the pot calling the kettle black. I live in the general area, and have seen firsthand what has happened to Arlington Park in recent years. The place is better off closed, IMO.

[Saratoga_Mike]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

When the Illinois legislature approved CDI's purchase of 61% of the nearby Rivers Casino...everyone with even half a brain realized that Arlington Park's days were numbered. The irony in all this is that the Illinois politicians are now calling CDI "greedy"...which is akin to the pot calling the kettle black. I live in the general area, and have seen firsthand what has happened to Arlington Park in recent years. The place is better off closed, IMO.

AP always struck me as a gem of a track. Granted, it's chronically understaffed on big days. What are your objections?

Yeah, it was just shocking that CD didn't want slots at AP after acquiring the majority stake in Rivers. Shocking. Watch the state award the Waukegan license to CD, too.

[Track Collector]

I never have handicapped AP well, but when I visited it many years ago, I thought is was a nice looking facility. I particularly remember that viewing a race from outside was very fan friendly because of some tiered steps.

With the nearby casino owned by the same company, things don't look good for AP. I can't see someone getting the right price to purchase AP and continue running it as a racetrack. Hawthorne is now poised to to become the premier track in Illinois.

I am also hoping for better times at minor league Fairmount Park. At one time they used to race 150+ days, but that might have been when they had TB and Harness racing seasons. That number of days will probably still be difficult to get close to given the significantly declining horse population over the past decade. At least horsemen should soon be getting a higher purse structure to run there, if not benefiting from an on-site casino license instead.

[therussmeister]

Originally Posted by Track Collector

With the nearby casino owned by the same company, things don't look good for AP. I can't see someone getting the right price to purchase AP and continue running it as a racetrack. Hawthorne is now poised to to become the premier track in Illinois.

Even if someone was willing to buy AP to operate as a racetrack, CDI probably wouldn't sell to them.

If CDI doesn't want to open a casino there, they certainly won't sell to someone else who might open a casino there.

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

When the Illinois legislature approved CDI's purchase of 61% of the nearby Rivers Casino...everyone with even half a brain realized that Arlington Park's days were numbered. The irony in all this is that the Illinois politicians are now calling CDI "greedy"...which is akin to the pot calling the kettle black. I live in the general area, and have seen firsthand what has happened to Arlington Park in recent years. The place is better off closed, IMO.

Would not be surprised to see the track go the way of Hollywood Park, another formerly CDI owned track.

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by Track Collector

I never have handicapped AP well, but when I visited it many years ago, I thought is was a nice looking facility. I particularly remember that viewing a race from outside was very fan friendly because of some tiered steps.

With the nearby casino owned by the same company, things don't look good for AP. I can't see someone getting the right price to purchase AP and continue running it as a racetrack. Hawthorne is now poised to to become the premier track in Illinois.

I am also hoping for better times at minor league Fairmount Park. At one time they used to race 150+ days, but that might have been when they had TB and Harness racing seasons. That number of days will probably still be difficult to get close to given the significantly declining horse population over the past decade. At least horsemen should soon be getting a higher purse structure to run there, if not benefiting from an on-site casino license instead.

I think that the very expensive facility was almost part of the problem with Arlington---it was built for large crowds right at a time when people stopped going to races live (with a few exceptions).

An expert on Illinois could better answer this, but just from reading over the years it's been an endless battle of will-they-or-won't-they with the casinos. The horse racing business in the state has always finished on the losing side of that equation.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by therussmeister

Even if someone was willing to buy AP to operate as a racetrack, CDI probably wouldn't sell to them.

If CDI doesn't want to open a casino there, they certainly won't sell to someone else who might open a casino there.

They will certainly try not to. But bear in mind, doing this too explicitly can get a company in antitrust trouble.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by Saratoga_Mike

AP always struck me as a gem of a track. Granted, it's chronically understaffed on big days. What are your objections?

The track is beautiful...but the "big days" are a part of its distant past. Even in the pre-Coronavirus days...the place was a virtual ghost-town. The Arlington Park customers must now do their betting at the nearby Trackside OTB facility. I was there yesterday...and you couldn't start a decent poker game with the customers who were gathered there. Having noticed this...four of the patrons there were engaged in a game of gin rummy. That's why I said that the place is better off closed. It breaks your heart to see such loneliness in a place as beautiful as Arlington Park.

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

The track is beautiful...but the "big days" are a part of its distant past. Even in the pre-Coronavirus days...the place was a virtual ghost-town. The Arlington Park customers must now do their betting at the nearby Trackside OTB facility. I was there yesterday...and you couldn't start a decent poker game with the customers who were gathered there. Having noticed this...four of the patrons there were engaged in a game of gin rummy. That's why I said that the place is better off closed. It breaks your heart to see such loneliness in a place as beautiful as Arlington Park.

Tragic! As a racing facility, It's one of the nicest in the world, and I've seen quite a few. Hopefully, it will survive, but it seems to be a longshot based on the current news.