CORRECTS CATALANO'S WIN TOTAL TO 63!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Zenner
(847) 385-7535
Cell (847) 371-1670
CURTAIN COMES DOWN ON 2012 ARLINGTON PARK SEASON
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Sept. 30, 2012) – The 90-day meeting at Arlington Park ended Sunday, Sept. 30, with trainer Wayne Catalano earning his 10th Arlington crown while jockey Francisco Torres and owners Midwest Thoroughbreds of Richard & Karen Papiese each took down their first Arlington title.
One month into Arlington’s 2012 session, the Chicago oval’s normally prolific Catalano had only registered four wins at the meeting, but by the end of July he had assumed his traditional position atop the standings. By the time the curtain fell on Sept. 30, “Cat” had won 63 races, nearly double the victories of his closest pursuer Chris Block (38 wins).
Block was top trainer in purses earned with $1,921,998 topped by victories with Leading Astray in the Grade III Pucker Up Stakes on Sept. 15 and Ioya Bigtime in the Grade III Stars and Stripes on Million Preview Day.
The prolific operation of Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds adds Arlington Park to the long list of racetracks where the couple has taken home a title.
The 2011 national champions in races won with 418 victories as well as in money earned with more than $6.3 million in purse earning, the Papieses have already surpassed those figures in 2012 with 436 wins and more than $8 million in purses.
With 26 victories from 125 starts, Midwest Thoroughbreds outpaced last year’s leading owner William Stiritz, who had 18 victories here in 2012.
Though their horses earned a solid $756,492 in purses here, that was only good enough for second behind the Team Block operation of David, Patricia & Ryan Block whose starters banked $899,609.
Despite the fact that Francisco Torres was atop the jockey standings for nearly the entire meet, it wasn’t until the final week that he was able to put away last year’s champion James Graham with the final count being 100-90. Torres also led all riders in purses earned with $3,090,654.
This year’s Arlington Million, won by Little Mike, again was televised nationally by WGN-America, which is available in more than 72 million homes.
In addition, Arlington boasted an aggressive promotional calendar in 2012 that included a special days saluting Northwestern University, the Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox; fireworks on July 4 which were enjoyed by a crowd in excess of 36,000; and events such as Girls Day Out, College Day and Binny’s Taste of the Track which helped expose Arlington to a wider audience.
-MORE-
2012 Meet End Release
Page 2
September 30, 2012
On the track, Priscilla Vaccarezza’s Little Mike defeated Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum’s British-bred Afsare in Arlington Million XXX on Saturday, August 18 before a crowd of 34,022. The 5-year-old son of Spanish Steps is trained by Dale Romans and gave jockey Ramon Dominguez his second win in the race.
European invaders dominated the remaining International Festival races with Andrew Stone’s Irish-bred I’m a Dreamer, trained by David Simcock and ridden by Hayley Turner, winning the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes; His Highness the Aka Khan Studs’ French-bred Bayrir, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, taking the Grade I $500,000 Secretariat Stakes; and Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock’s Irish-bred Jakkalberry winning the inaugural edition of the $400,000 American St. Leger Stakes for trainer Marco Botti and jockey Colm O’Donoghue.
Other impressive on-track performances were turned in by Mark Bacon & Dana Wells’ Silver Max in the $125,000 Arlington Classic; Albaugh Family Stable’s Cozzetti in the Grade III American Derby; Stone Farm et. al’s Upperline in the Grade III Arlington Matron; Swifty Farms’ Pataky Kid in the Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity; Dolphus Morrison’s Gold Edge in the Grade III Arlington-Washington Lassie; Frank Calabrese’s Romacaca in the Grade III Modesty Handicap; and a second victory in the Grade III Arlington Handicap by Robert Courtney Jr.’s Rahystrada.
Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run an 89-day meet in 2013 from Friday, May 3 through Sunday, Sept. 29. Arlington Park, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 10 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities – Trackside Arlington Park (Arlington Heights), Trackside Quad City Downs (East Moline), Trackside Waukegan, Joe’s Bar on Weed Street featuring Trackside Chicago, Tavern on North featuring Trackside Villa Park, Shooters Bar & Grill at Don Carter Lanes featuring Trackside Rockford, Stanley’s Ale House featuring Trackside OTB in South Elgin, Nicolino’s featuring Trackside OTB in McHenry, 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.
-END-
________________________________
This Churchill Downs Incorporated communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail message and delete all copies of the original communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
