Arlington Park news release
Contact: David Zenner
Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com
29,772 WELCOME HALEY REINHART HOME AT ARLINGTON PARK
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 14, 2011) – A throng of 29,772 braved unseasonably chilly weather and damp conditions at Arlington Park Racecourse Saturday to witness an emotional homecoming performance by season 10 American Idol finalist Haley Reinhart, who hails from nearby Wheeling, Ill.
The local Idol standout performed both on her own and with accompaniment by a band that included her parents, while fans young and old alike showed their support for the area resident who advanced to the Final Three on “American Idol” earlier this week.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the enthusiastic response Haley received from her legion of fans and it’s easy to see why she has been successful,” said Arlington Park General Manager Tony Petrillo. “We hope everyone had a great time at Arlington Park and we’ll all be rooting for Haley to be named the next ‘American Idol’ winner in a couple of weeks.”
The performance was the culmination of a day-long blitz of the Chicago area that began Friday night downtown Chicago for an appearance on the FOX-32 news, a Saturday morning appearance at a suburban AT&T store, followed by a visit to her Wheeling High School alma mater.
In the afternoon, Haley was in a motorcade that stopped outside Wheeling’s village hall where town officials welcomed Haley and her parents. Then it was on to Arlington Park for Haley and her family.
The event began with a video following Reinhart’s rise to fame on this season’s “American Idol” and remarks from local officials before she was introduced by the racecourse’s traditional Call to Post to kick off the performance.
Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run an 86-day meet in 2011 from Friday, May 6 through Sunday, Sept. 25. Arlington Park, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 11 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities: Trackside Arlington Park (Arlington Heights), Trackside Chicago, Trackside Quad City Downs (East Moline), Trackside Waukegan, Shooters Bar & Grill at Don Carter Lanes featuring Trackside Rockford, Fat Sam’s Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in Lockport, Silk and Sulkies featuring Trackside OTB in South Elgin, Nicolino’s featuring Trackside OTB in McHenry, Tad’s Sports Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in South Beloit, Salerno-Pincente Ristorante featuring Trackside OTB in Hodgkins and Sundance Saloon featuring Trackside OTB in Waukegan. Information on Arlington Park can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com.
