Sportsman's Update

[Wilderness]

Rather than duplicate the same material here:

Old Chicago Tracks


Encyclopedia of Chicgao

In addition, Kim Rinker did a book on the old Chicago tracks just a few years ago.
Chicago's Horse Racing Venues

[MichiganDale]

Once a premier racetrack, then a so-so motor speedway in the wrong location, then a vast wasteland and now Wal-Mart?   Unbelievable.   Maybe instead of Aisle Numbers they can name each Aisle for the name of a great horse that raced there?  Like Rambling Willie Road, Albatross Avenue, Nevele Pride Place, things like that.....can you hear it now, you ask where to find the dog food and they say "you'll find it in Rambling Willie Road," or "where's the tidy bowl cleaner" and they tell you it's found on Albatross Avenue, things like that.....

[Wilderness]

Somehow I don't believe Walmart's will adapt the "themed atmosphere's", similar to what some of the McDonald's have done.

 They'd be better of "importing" Asian names

[Just Saying]

I've owned some that belonged in the dog food aisle.

[maywoodmaniac]

Arlington wasn't a test meet but instead a substitute after Washington Park burned to the ground. Arlington and Washington were owned by Madison Square Garden Corp. at the time. There were several reasons why Arlington finally moved their meet to Maywood, mostly due to the configuration of the track. First season included many 7-8's and 1-1/8 mile races because the mile marker was in the turn. Arlington was/still is a bedroom community and many people made the trip to the "Land beyond O'Hare", at least until gas prices tripled to around $2 because of what was going on in Iran at the time.

[Just Saying]

Arlington wasn't a test meet but instead a substitute after Washington Park burned to the ground. Arlington and Washington were owned by Madison Square Garden Corp. at the time. There were several reasons why Arlington finally moved their meet to Maywood, mostly due to the configuration of the track. First season included many 7-8's and 1-1/8 mile races because the mile marker was in the turn. Arlington was/still is a bedroom community and many people made the trip to the "Land beyond O'Hare", at least until gas prices tripled to around $2 because of what was going on in Iran at the time.

Thanks for the update. My Brother raced harness there a couple of times, but I've never been there.(I've heard it's gorgeous since the post-fire rebuild) I remember harness not lasting long at Arlington. I always assumed it was a standard mile track.

[maywoodmaniac]

Just what you expect for $200 million.

Old Arlington had a huge grandstand built for summer racing.  The harness meets were held in Oct, Nov, and Dec.  It wasn't Sportsman's type quality but still very competitive and they had some big events.

I think Governor Skipper made his final start there in a race against Rambling Willie and Silk Stockings, but those 3 got beat by a Canadian horse.  Remember who won it?

[pope of vegas]

You actually jogged a mile to get to the track(Arlington), You then went into the tunnel under the grandstands and came out next to the Winners circle. It was a very Cold winter that year,if memory serves me right.

  Oh yeah, many a horse got spooked in that tunnel.

[Just Saying]

Oh yeah, many a horse got spooked in that tunnel.

Don't think I ever took one through a tunnel, but some got get a little goofy going up or down the paddock ramp under the Hawthorne grandstand.. especially if they had to stop for traffic. Sure was easier when they built the new security/paddock barn on the backstretch.

[Mags]

Loved that track. I was there the night of my high school graduation,
had $20.00 to win on Stan Banks and Acquittal, he broke stride in the first turn, caught and won the race at 2-1.  I thought that night I might  become a professional gambler. I am currently on a 33 year losing streak.

I have complete confidence that 34 years is certainly reachable if you keep taking my live ones   

[Wilderness]

Remember who won it?

No answers?

OTRA

[Just Saying]

They'd be better of "importing" Asian names

How about one from Peter Pan Stable: Moo Goo Gai Pan.

[pope of vegas]

How about one from Peter Pan Stable: Moo Goo Gai Pan.

  Chinese checkers,,

[maywoodmaniac]

LeBaron Rouge.  Paid a decent price if memory serves.

[Unique Style]

I don't remember many tracks

Maywood,  Balmoral, Sportsmans,  Hawthorne, Arlington, Quad City Downs
I heard the names(never visited)
Aurora Downs, Washington Park, Fairmont

Just Saying is old as dirt, so I am sure has visited them all.