Highlighted by the Arlington Million (gr. IT), Arlington Park will offer 22 stakes races worth more than $4.2 million during its 86 days of racing in 2011. The meet, which needs to be approved by the Illinois Racing Board, runs from May 6 through Sept. 25.
Arlington offered 26 stakes worth more than $4.7 million in 2010. The American 1,000 Guineas and the grade III Arlington Oaks were eliminated from this year's schedule.
Arlington's International Festival of Racing will be Aug. 13 and features three grade I turf stakes—the Arlington Million; the $750,000 Beverly D. for fillies & mares; and the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds.
The first of these days is scheduled for May 28 and will feature two $100,000 stakes—$100,000 Arlington Matron (gr. III), down $50,000 from a year ago, and the $100,000 Arlington Classic, the first leg of the Mid-America Triple for 3-year-olds on the turf.
One other added-money race on the May calendar is the $100,000 Hanshin Cup (gr. III) for older horses, which will be run May 21.
The June stakes slate is highlighted by the June 25 Prairie State Festival. The 12th annual showcase for Illinois-registered horses includes six $100,000 stakes for horses bred and/or foaled in Illinois.
On July 9, Million Preview Day includes major prep races for three International Festival events. The $150,000 Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) serves as the final local prep race for the Arlington Million, while the $150,000 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT) plays the same role for the Beverly D., and the $200,000 American Derby (gr. IIT), which is also the second leg of the Mid-America Triple, leads into the Secretariat Stakes.
Two-year-olds will be featured on Sept. 10 when Arlington presents the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) for colts & geldings and the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie for fillies.
Two additional stakes race are scheduled for the meet’s final month—the $100,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) for older horses on Sept. 3 and the $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies, which will be run on Sept. 17.
