FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Zenner
(847) 385-7535
Cell (847) 371-1670
Fax: (847) 385-7251
Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com
LONGTIME CHICAGO TRAINER TOMILLO PASSES AWAY AT AGE 66
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Sept. 2, 2010) – Illinois racing lost one of its most ardent supporters when longtime trainer Tom Tomillo passed away Wednesday evening at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. He was 66 years old.
A fixture in Chicago racing for more than more than five decades, first as an owner and later as a trainer, Tomillo won his first race as a trainer at Arlington Park in 1971. Tomillo’s barn won at least one race here every year from 1971 through 2009 and his 376 wins here rank him 16th on Arlington’s all-time list of leading trainers. In addition, he was leading trainer at Hawthorne in 1988 and 1990.
Known primarily as a claiming trainer, Tomillo enjoyed considerable success with Lord of the Game, a $10,000 claim that went on to win two graded stakes - the Grade III Hanshin Cup here and the Grade II Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows.
Tomillo is survived by his brother Patrick; sons Thomas Jr. and Anthony; daughter Lynda Hakala; seven grandchildren; and companion Lynda Farinella.
Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 3 from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 4 from 8:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. at Salerno’s Galewood Chapels, 1857 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago. Funeral mass will be Saturday, Sept. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at St. William Church, 2600 N. Sayre Ave., Chicago.
Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 91-day meet in 2010 from Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, Sept. 26. 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, Lucky’s 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.
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