ARLINGTON CULMINATES 2002 BREEDERS' CUP SEASON WITH 14% INCREASE IN AVERAGE DAILY WAGERING AND NEARLY 5% JUMP IN ATTENDANCE

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Oct. 28, 2002) -- The 107-day 2002 Arlington Park race meet, run from Wednesday, June 5 through Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002, concluded with a 14.3 percent increase in total average daily wagering and a 4.8 percent gain in on-track attendance. These averages are for 106 days and do not include the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship attendance of 46,118, on-track and total handles of $13,568,209 and $115,523,156, respectively.

"The increases in both the attendance and handle can be mostly credited to the increased awareness about Arlington Park that resulted from our first opportunity to host the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships," stated Arlington Park President Steve Sexton. "In addition, a more aggressive marketing campaign led to a higher attendance on track, while a more extensive exotic wagering menu combined with additional awareness due to the Breeders' Cup attracted more dollars from out of state."

Arlington Park's 106-day (no Breeders' Cup) total handle from all sources was $414,442,101, an average of $3,909,831 per day, which represents a 14.3 percent increase from the 2001 average of $3,420,430 ($345,463,483 total). On-track $61,276,349 was wagered overall, for a daily average of $578,079, a 2.8 percent increase from last year's $562,421 average ($56,804,502 total).

The total 106-day attendance for the 2002 meet was 666,834, more than 60,000 higher than last year's 606,233. The daily average of 6,291 represents a 4.8 percent increase from the 2001 average of 6,002.

Following are the 2002 meet totals for 107 days including the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships:

On-Track Handle $ 74,844,558 Total Handle - All Sources $522,955,208 Attendance 712,952

On the track, Beat Hollow gave Juddmonte Farm, Bobby Frankel and Jerry Bailey their second Arlington Million triumph in three years. The trio also combined to take the 2000 Million with Chester House.

The Million is one of three Grade I races that comprise the International Festival of Racing, held this year on Aug. 17. In the other Festival headliners, Gary Tanaka's Golden Apples, trained by Ben Cecil and ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, won the Beverly D. Juddmonte and Frankel captured their second Grade I race of the day when Chiselling, with Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, earned a nose tally Secretariat Stakes.

Frank C. Calabrese established a new single-season record of 66 victories while earning his third consecutive title as the meet's leading owner, 50 wins better than runner-up Team Block.

Wayne Catalano, private trainer for Calabrese and the 2000 titlist, captured 64 races (two of Calabrese's victors were trained by others) to establish a new single-season standard for wins at Arlington. Jerry Hollendorfer, last year's champion, was second with 39 tallies.

The previous mark for both owner and trainer was 62 was set by Irish Acres Farm and Noel Hickey in 1991.

Jockey Rene Douglas successfully defended his 2001 riding title with 167 trips to the winner's circle. Elvis Trujillo took Arlington by storm during the waning days of his apprenticeship and continued to ride well after losing the "bug" was second in the standings with 85 victories and named the meet's Rising Star.

Bugler Joe Kelly, who retired after calling the horses to the post at Arlington for 22 years, received the track's Lifetime Achievement Award.

	2002	2001	2001 avg.	2,002 106 days (no BC)	2,002 106 days avg.	2002-2001 % change
Live On-Track	74,844,558	56,804,502	562,421	1,276,349	578,079	+ 2.8
Out of State	400,433,452	248,461,796	2,460,018	309,855,323	2,923,163	+ 18.8
All Sources	522,955,208	345,463,483	3,420,430	414,442,101	3,909,831	+ 14.3
Attendance	712,952	606,233	6,002	666,834	6,291	+ 4.8