Opinion

Honor a class act

Posted February 02, 2022 12:00 am

Dick Duchossois was a World War II hero, extremely successful businessman, generous philanthropist, and overall class act. He was the epitome of the "greatest generation."

Mr. D's crowning achievement was the rebuilding of Arlington Park, one of the greatest sporting venues in the world. Whenever I ran into him at the track, he was genuinely excited to see you there and would always thank you for coming.

When New York sports writer Jenny Kellner came to Arlington to write about the track in 1989 when it reopened, she began by telling the tale of a horseplayer who had gone to heaven and was taken on a tour by St. Peter, who afterward asked: "Well, how do you like the place." Oh, it's nice," he answered. "But it sure ain't Arlington."

Bill Carstanjen, you should honor one of your mentor's legacies and tell the Chicago Bears that Arlington Park is no longer for sale, reopen it and rename it Duchossois International. After all, Churchill Downs was founded on horse racing, wasn't it?

Kent Krenek

Arlington Heights

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