FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Zenner
(847) 385-7535
Cell (847) 371-1670
Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com
ARLINGTON PARK'S MOTHER'S DAY ATTEDANCE GAINS FOLLOW OPENING DAY, KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY GAINS OVER 2011 FIGURES
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 15, 2012) – Chicagoland enjoyed clear blue skies for Mother's Day 2012 and many families took advantage of that beautiful weather to enjoy mom's special day at Arlington Park. Attendance for Mother's Day at Arlington was 32,137 up 18% percent from the 27,246 that attended in 2011.
This significant gain followed substantial attendance gains posted the previous weekend for Arlington's 2012 Opening Day and Chicagoland's Largest Kentucky Derby Party.
Opening Day Friday, May 4, which featured nine races as well as the simulcast of the Kentucky Oaks, attracted a crowd of 9,307 which is 23% more than the 2011 figure of 7,596. It is also the 2nd largest Opening Day attendance of the last decade.
The following day Arlington Park hosted Chicagoland's Largest Kentucky Derby Party and attracted 23,085, the largest crowd ever for Derby Day at Arlington Park. The Derby Day attendance was 23% better than the 18,779 people than last year.
"These first two weekends have been a great start to our 2012 season," said Arlington Park General Manager Tony Petrillo. "We appreciate our customers support. It shows that the fans are enthusiastic about getting back to Arlington Park and we view this as a positive sign for the rest of the year. We can't wait to get back to racing this Wednesday. We have a great race card of full fields so we expect our momentum to continue."
When racing resumes on Wednesday, Arlington Park fans will be treated to an outstanding wagering card where pre-scratch field size averages 10.4 horses per race. In addition, there is a $113,635 carryover pool into the $1 Jackpot High 5 (Race 9), a $25,858 carryover into the 10-cent Pick 9 (starts Race 1), a $13,046 carryover in to the $1 Pick 6 (starts Race 4) and a $9,737 carryover into the 50-cent Pick 5 (starts Race 5) plus the regular Wednesday $40,000 guaranteed pool into the 50-cent twinspires.com Late Pick 4 (starts Race 6).
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.
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