Second female rider to finish 4th at Arlington Million

Inez Karlsson is now tied for the best finish by a female jockey in the Arlington Million.

And she loved every minute of the Saturday's experience.

"Greatest and biggest achievement of my career," Karlsson said of the chance to ride in Arlington's showcase event in which she steered Rahystrada to fourth place.

There was only one other female rider in a Million. That was Julie Krone, who also finished fourth in 1991 with Chenin Blanc.

Karlsson was treated to a round of applause by the fans in the paddock before the race. "It's great to have so many fans supporting you," she said. "Sometimes I want to cry."

There were tears in the race before from 88-year-old Arlington Park chairman Richard Duchossois, whose Eclair de Lune won the Beverly D. named in his late wife's honor.

"What a wonderful man," Karlsson said. "He is such a nice person and has taken care of Arlington Park for so long. I'm definitely excited for him and his family. They really deserved that."

"I'm so happy and proud for him (Duchossois)," added retired jockey Earlie Fires, also an Arlington Park legend. "Believe me, he deserves this. He's probably one of the nicest persons in the world, besides being the chairman of the racetrack. He should be honored all the time for what he has done for racing."

Living legend: Bill Thayer, senior vice president of racing, was honored by Arlington Park officials Friday as a "Living Legend" in the sport.

Thayer played a big part in Richard Duchossois' special moment in winning the Beverly D.

"Bill Thayer named the Beverly D.," said Ed Fortino, the husband of Duchossois' daughter Dayle. "He told Mr. D., I'm going to put a race up in the name of your wife," Fortino said. "Mr. D. said, 'No, you can't do that.'

"Mr. D. thought it was too egotistic. So without Mr. D. knowing it, Bill had Howard Battle (then the Arlington racing secretary) put in a $75,000 stakes called the Beverly D. in 1987."

Pick Six: Of the six owners for Secretariat champ Paddy O'Prado, five are from Iowa.

The owner with the longest commute to Arlington is Joe Savage, a lawyer from Boston.

"I always wanted to have some percentage of ownership in a minor-league baseball team and a thoroughbred horse," Savage said. "So through a mutual friend, I was hooked up with Jerry Crawford, who put together the Donegal Racing Stable."

An omen? Just a little more than a month ago, Richard Duchossois watched Eclair de Lune finish a game second to Tuscan Evening in the Grade III Modesty Stakes at Arlington Park.

"When she ran second that day, you could see how happy he was, happy like a little kid," Arlington president Roy Arnold said. "He knew he had a real horse."

Sure enough, Duchossois was never happier in the racing game than he was Saturday.

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<h2>Stories</h2>

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<li><a href="/story/?id=402514">Irish-bred Debussy wins Arlington Million</a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=402535">Second female rider to finish 4th at Arlington Million</a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=402522">Tears of joy flow freely as chairman's horse wins Grade I race</a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=402521">Duchossois wins race named for late wife</a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=402517">Trainer says O'Prado one of best horses he's ever owned</a></li>

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<li><a href="/story/?id=402530">Images: Arlington Million</a></li>

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