One Moron Ruined The Illinois Racing Industry

[alhattab]

Originally Posted by Zman179

Without Duchossois there would be no Arlington at all. Any other owner after the fire would have taken the insurance money and redeveloped the land à la Washington Park.

Definitely true but that fact doesn’t contradict Hedevar’s point about today’s circumstances. Dick D is a businessperson. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some major tax motivations as well

[tbwinner]

Originally Posted by illinoisbred

I think Arlington's decline more or less started with the installation of the polytrack in 2007. Gone were all the good graded stakes on the dirt and the better stables/horses shunned the sham poly replacements. When a horse like El Gran Estreno wins the premiere former dirt stake-the Washington Park Handicap two years in a row, you kind of know things ain't what they used to be.

Totally agree. When SA and Kee went back to REAL dirt, and AP did not, you know the days were numbered.

Now they run 5k and 7500 races on the precious turf. You never would have thought of that even small possibility 20 years ago.

One of the most beautiful facilities in the world and a third tier product.

[olddaddy]

Originally Posted by The_Turf_Monster

All that said, there is still hope if Hawthorne can get its act together and build its casino and convention complex that was planned. Even with short fields and bad weather due to running in the late fall and spring, Hawthorne still has a brand that people bet - I would argue that they handle about 500% of what they should for the product they’ve put out for the last 10 years. Get the casino built and run the summer meet there and illinois racing may have a chance.

No chance in the neighborhood its in. If it survives, it will be as a slum track.

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by olddaddy

No chance in the neighborhood its in. If it survives, it will be as a slum track.

I disagree, it's an easy get from I-57. Nobody is walking through any neighborhoods to get there.

[The_Turf_Monster]

Originally Posted by olddaddy

No chance in the neighborhood its in. If it survives, it will be as a slum track.

If it’s a nice day, I’ll ride my bike and stop for some good food on Austin, there’s nothing wrong with the neighborhood west of there.

More importantly, it’s sitting on a gold mine. You’re free to look up the slot revenue for bars and restaurants in Cicero, Berwyn, and Brookfield. You’ll be shocked to see how much profit each one of those machines makes…..and Stickney would be the closest place for the entire SW side of Chicago to play

[biggestal99]

Originally Posted by wisconsin

I disagree, it's an easy get from I-57. Nobody is walking through any neighborhoods to get there.

When I went to Hawthorne, I bussed in. No problems.

Allan

[olddaddy]

Originally Posted by wisconsin

I disagree, it's an easy get from I-57. Nobody is walking through any neighborhoods to get there.

Not good at all from north or northwest.