Arlington Park news release
Contact: David Zenner
Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com
FIVE RETIRED JOCKEYS TO RETURN FOR ONE RACE; FACE OFF AGAINST FIVE ARLINGTON PARK JOCKEYS AUGUST 17
“Arlington’s Fab-5” vs. “Legends” in Pari-Mutuel Race
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Aug. 13, 2011) – Once again in 2012 as part of the festivities leading up to the Arlington Million, five retired jockey greats will return to the saddle for one race and square off against five of the top riders in the Arlington Park standings in the “Arlington Fab 5” vs. “Legends” turf race complete with pari-mutuel wagering to be held on Friday, August 17, one day before the 30th running of the Arlington Million.
Slated to take a one-day break from retirement are Hall-of-Fame jockey Earlie Fires; Patti Cooksey, who has been participating in similar Legends races the last few seasons; former Arlington Park Rising Star and now HRTV Broadcaster Zoe Cadman; former Eclipse Award winning rider Frank Lovato Jr.; and Midwestern mainstay Larry Melancon.
The Legends are looking for their first score in the three-year history of the event. Inez Karlsson led the Arlington team to victory two years ago while Junior Alvarado propelled the Arlington team in their repeat bid last year.
The top five jockeys in the Arlington Park standings will represent the current jockey colony. Riding assignments for the race were pulled by lot when entries were drawn for the Friday card on Sunday, August 12.
The top five riders in the Arlington standings are Francisco Torres, James Graham, Rosemary Homeister Jr, Seth Martinez and Jeffrey Sanchez.
The five former riders will be at Arlington as part of the day’s third annual “Dining With The Dynasty” fund raiser, a charity event that brings legendary jockeys from all over the country to raise funds to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America. For more information about these organizations, visit their websites at www.pdjf.org and www.rtcail.org.
A limited number of tables will be available for purchase for $600 in Arlington Park’s exclusive Turf Club from Noon until 1 pm where VIP ticketholders will enjoy lunch with the legendary and Hall of Fame jockeys such as Walter Blum, Bill Boland, Zoe Cadman, Patti Cooksey, Jean Cruguet, Pat Day, David Erb, Jackie Fires, Earlie Fires, Frank Lovato Jr., Chris McCarron, Larry Melancon, John Rotz, and Barbara Jo Rubin. The jockeys will share stories, reminisce about racing experiences and will autograph your racing memorabilia. Tickets can be purchased from the PDJF by contacting Nancy LaSala at nancy.lasala@yahoo.com.
Arlington Park’s Howard Sudberry and Alyssa Ali will host the event and interview the all-time great jockeys as they tell wonderful stories about their experiences riding some of the most famous horses in racing history. The show will be broadcast to all simulcast outlets in the country and fans will be able to participate in the Q&A session through Twitter. The Q&A session will be run from 1:45 pm until 2:45 pm at the track’s Starting Gate Theatre on the second floor of the grandstand and is open to the public.
In addition to “Dining with the Dynasty”, many of the riders will participate in a public autograph session at the bottom of Grand Staircase on the apron level from 10 am until Noon on Arlington Million Day, Saturday, Aug. 18.
Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 90-day meet in 2012 from Friday, May 4 through Sunday, Sept. 30. Arlington Park, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 12 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities – Trackside Arlington Park (Arlington Heights), Trackside Chicago, Trackside Quad City Downs (East Moline), Trackside Waukegan, Tavern on North featuring Trackside Villa Park, Shooters Bar & Grill at Don Carter Lanes featuring Trackside Rockford, Fat Sam’s Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in Lockport, Stanley’s Ale House featuring Trackside OTB in South Elgin, Nicolino’s featuring Trackside OTB in McHenry, TADS Sports Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in South Beloit, Salerno-Pincente Ristorante featuring Trackside OTB in Hodgkins and Sam’s Triple Crown featuring Trackside Orland Hills. Information on Arlington Park can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com.
