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.