Trainers optimistic as Arlington returns for another run

Another thoroughbred season opens Friday at Arlington International, the longtime summer destination of horse racing fans from the northwest suburbs and throughout the Midwest.

No one knows that better than Larry Rivelli.

The defending Arlington training champ basically grew up on the track's backstretch since the age of 5 years old when he worked for his grandfather Peter Divito and uncle Jimmy DiVito, an Elk Grove High School graduate.

Rivelli led start to finish last summer, winning 59 races from 184 starters to score at an impressive 32 percent as he claimed his second title in four seasons.

The former Crystal Lake South star running back who played wide receiver at St. Cloud State University (Minn.) is hoping for more of the same at this summer's 77-day meet, which runs through Sept. 26.

The Arlington gates open at 2 p.m. for Friday's opener with track announcer John Dooley calling the first race at 3:15 p.m.

"We probably have some better quality horses and a couple of real nice babies and 3-year-olds," Rivelli said. "With the purse structure here, we may have to run some of them at other venues.

"But I love running at Arlington. It's my home," added Rivelli, who resides in Lake in the Hills. "I hope they get the slot machines so purses get better and keep the track preserved for a long time. There's not a finer facility you'll find in horse racing than Arlington Park. Mr. (Richard) Duchossois (chairman) does a fantastic job."

Rivelli says he has family to thank for his success and freely admits he's still learning about the sport every day.

"Some times these horses will make you talk to yourself," he said with a laugh. "But I'll be ready to go."

Trainer Tammy Domenosky is also ready to go after winning 36 races last summer to tie for second in the standings with veteran trainer Chris Block.

"The track is beautiful," said Domenosky, a Wisconsin native. "It's a great place to be in the summer time. I think this is one of the better places in terms of the facility and track itself.

"I know no one is happy with the cut in purses and the shape of Illinois racing, but at least we have a beautiful facility, and people love to come to Arlington."

Domenosky is coming with another full stable.

"I think this season we are going into the meet with better quality horses," she said. "Hopefully we can duplicate what we did last year and maybe do even better. We've got a pretty good combination of horses, claimers, allowance and some babies.

"Being the leading trainer would be nice, but as long as the horses are giving their best effort, that's all you can ask."

Block is another mainstay at Arlington and one of the top trainers of Illinois-bred thoroughbreds.

"I'm always looking forward to another season," said Block, a Champaign native who won 36 races from 184 starts last year, second only to Manny Perez' 227 starts. "But the purses are not very good. Racing is not in great shape in Illinois.

"I look forward to the meet because of the mystique of Arlington Park, and its facility. I'm not looking forward to my owners not making a lot of money the way the purse structure is, but I am looking forward to hopefully seeing the legislature help out. Right now, Illinois doesn't have the purses. We need legislation or the face of Illinois racing will change dramatically."

Jockey Florent Geroux, who was second in the standings last summer with 82 wins, is expected to return and make a run at the title.

One newcomer, Jose Valdivia Jr., who has been riding at Gulfstream, is listed on four horses on Friday, including two for Rivelli.

The centerpiece of the meet remains the 33rd running of the Grade I Arlington Million on Aug. 15 as part of the International Festival of Racing. Also on that day will be Grade I Beverly D., Grade I Secretariat and Grade III American St. Leger on the same day.

The local prep races for the International Festival of Racing will once again be featured on Million Preview Day, which is July 11.