Arlington Park news release
Contact: David Zenner
Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com
TRACKSIDE ROCKFORD TO RELOCATE TO SHOOTER’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL INSIDE DON CARTER LANES
New Home for Illinois’ Oldest Continuously Operating OTB
ROCKFORD, Ill. (Dec. 15, 2009) – Trackside Rockford, Illinois’ oldest continuously operating off-track wagering facility which opened on Nov. 11, 1987, is moving to a new location at Shooter’s Bar & Grill inside Don Carter Lanes, 4007 East State Street in Rockford. The new wagering location will open on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009.
Shooter’s Sports Bar & Grill, is approximately two miles west of the current Trackside Rockford. Don Carter Lanes is the region’s largest bowling center. The popular local entertainment spot is currently undergoing a significant exterior and interior renovation including the addition of the Trackside Rockford wagering operation.
The facility has approximately 48,000 square feet with approximately 2,000 square feet dedicated to Trackside Rockford plus an additional 4,000 square feet of bar and billiards space providing wagering services.
The new Trackside Rockford will feature 82 plasma and LCD television monitors ranging in size from 12” personal desktop units to 63” large-screen wall displays, and 17 betting machines. The new location will continue to offer wagering day and night seven days a week on races from Arlington Park and all Illinois racetracks, Churchill Downs Simulcast Network ("CDSN") tracks and other major racetracks throughout North America and from around the world.
“The prospect of working with Don Carter Lanes, providing our wagering product as an integral part of a newly renovated mixed-use entertainment facility creates a setting in which we would hope to find success,” said Arlington Park President Roy A. Arnold with regard to the move to the new location.
A public celebration of the initial renovations at Don Carter Lanes including the introduction of Trackside Rockford off-track wagering to the facility is planned for Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 at 3 pm and will include remarks from city, county and “Miracle Mile” officials as well as the management of Don Carter Lanes and Arlington Park.
A Customer Appreciation Celebration will be offered at the new Trackside Rockford from Thursday, Jan. 7 through Sunday, Jan. 10 with details to follow.
Full wagering and food and beverage operations will continue at the existing Trackside Rockford location at 5011 State Street until the end of the afternoon races on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. Fans will be able to wager on Sunday evening’s races prior to the closing at approximately 6 pm and will be able to cash any winning wagers beginning Tuesday, Dec. 29 at the new location.
Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 91-day meet in 2010 from Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, Sept. 26. Arlington Park, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 10 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities: Trackside Arlington Park (Arlington Heights), Trackside Chicago, Trackside Quad City Downs (East Moline), Trackside Rockford, Trackside Waukegan, Fat Sam’s Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in Lockport, Lucky’s featuring Trackside OTB in South Elgin, Nicolino’s featuring Trackside OTB in McHenry, Tad’s Sports Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in South Beloit and Salerno-Pincente Ristorante featuring Trackside OTB in Hodgkins. Information on Arlington Park can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com.
