advertisement

Horses arrive at Arlington racetrack

Thoroughbred horses that will be the star attractions on Opening Day started settling into their new quarters Saturday at the Arlington International Racecourse.

Horses began arriving early Saturday morning - a day after track officials reached an agreement allowing the racing season to begin Friday. They will continue to trickle in into next week from Hawthorne Racecourse in Cicero, Tampa Bay Downs in Florida, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky, track spokesman Howard Sudberry said.

"They will be shipping in from all over the country," Sudberry said. "We probably will have 1,700 when we are at capacity. That's what we are expecting."

The track will open as scheduled Friday, followed by Kentucky Derby Day on Saturday, May 7, and Mother's Day on Sunday, May 8.

The agreement between Arlington International Racecourse and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association was reached Friday, ending a dispute that on April 18 saw the horsemen's association sue the track, the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation, and the Illinois Racing Board over fears that the three entities were working together to replace the horsemen's association with the thoroughbred breeders group.

  Seeming to say, "I'm ready for my close-up," one of several thoroughbred horses that arrived Saturday at the Arlington International Racecourse shows off its best side. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  One of several thoroughbred horses that arrived Saturday at the Arlington International Racecourse shows off its best side. The track opens Friday. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  With the dispute between track officials and the horsemen's association settled, several thoroughbred horses began arriving Saturday at the Arlington International Racecourse. The track opens Friday. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Thoroughbred horses began arriving Saturday at the Arlington International Racecourse ahead of Opening Day Friday. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.