Greed might be racetrack’s undoing

If Arlington Park’s Richard Duchossois thinks he’s doing everything he can to keep his track open, he may want to consider a few of these ideas:

1. Free admission (like Gulfstream Park) instead of $8.

2. Free parking within eyesight of the park (like Gulfstream Park) instead of needing preferred and/or valet without having to take a cab from your “free” space.

3. Have a $2 14 oz. draft beer (like Gulfstream Park) instead of $6.50.

4. Reasonable food prices.

5. Allow coolers (with alcoholic beverages) instead of a security checkpoint at the gate as strict as O’Hare Airport.

6. Let the people who attend the races sit wherever they want instead of charging $3 for a preferred seat and then hiring staff to ensure NO ONE sits in the preferred seats if they haven’t paid the $3 even when there is NO ONE in the preferred seats.

I spent every racing day for the past three months at Gulfstream and thoroughly enjoyed the track and, more importantly, the quality of the racing and the jockey colony. When I told them what Arlington was charging for admission, seats and refreshments they simply couldn’t believe it. And all of this on top of anywhere from 17-25 percent take out on the monies bet.

If Arlington Park does close it won’t be due to casinos or lack of slots. Greed comes to mind.

Tom Franzak

Hoffman Estates