Arlington Racecourse Shut Down

Arlington International Racecourse, one of the nation’s top thoroughbred tracks, will not open next year because its owner was not granted a riverboat casino license.

Owner Richard Duchossois said Monday time ran out on his two-year effort to protect Illinois horse racing and breeding from competition from riverboat gambling when the Legislature adjourned last week.

Duchossois said parimutuel betting has dwindled because of competition from riverboats and the quality of racing is suffering.

He said the track, home of the Arlington Million and 19 other graded stakes, faced a projected 1995 operating loss of $6 million to $10 million.

“After 11 years of hard work to build world-class racing in the Chicago area, we are unwilling to preside over its demise,” he said.

Mike Lawrence, a spokesman for Gov. Jim Edgar, said the decision was detrimental to Illinois horse racing.

“Mr. Duchossois was not interested in anything short of having all of his demands met,” Lawrence said.

The track generates 4,500 jobs in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights and supports other jobs in related businesses elsewhere in the state.

The Illinois Racing Board had given Arlington 130 racing dates for 1995. Those dates now will go to Sportsman’s Park in Cicero and Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney.