Serving as the designated prep for Arlington Million XXX is the Grade III $200,000 Arlington Handicap at the Million distance of a mile and a quarter on the turf while the Grade III $200,000 Modesty Handicap at a mile and three-sixteenths over the lawn serves the same purpose for the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D.
The Grade III $200,000 American Derby, also run at a mile and three-sixteenths on turf, is the second leg of Arlington’s Mid-America Triple and is the final prep for the Grade I $500,000 Secretariat Stakes.
New to the Million Preview Day card is the Grade III $150,000 Stars and Stripes. The mile and a half turf test serves as the prep for the inaugural running of the $400,000 American St. Leger Stakes which will be run over a grassy mile and eleven-sixteenths on the Million Day card.
Saturday’s events start early with Breakfast at Arlington and fans can watch the horses go through their morning training regimen against a breathtaking backdrop of early morning sunlight and enjoy a delicious Breakfast buffet from 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Track announcer John G. Dooley and Arlington television personalities Alyssa Ali and Howard Sudberry host an entertaining, informative program from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. From jockeys to trainers to racing officials, our featured guests from all walks of Thoroughbred racing will be covering everything from training horses to track maintenance.
Gates open at 8:00 a.m. for Breakfast at Arlington and admission is free. There is an option to purchase a breakfast buffet for $12 (unlimited pass through). A discounted price of $8 will be available for children 4-11 and 3 and under are free.
In addition, guests can secure a spot on Arlington’s popular backstretch tour in advance with the purchase of a special VIP Backstretch Tour and Breakfast Package, limited to the first 40 guests to purchase tickets online for each event date.
Saturday also will be a Saturday Summer Bash featuring live music in the Park area by Suburban Cowboys, and if that isn’t enough the first 3,000 fans to purchase tickets online will receive a free Arlington Million baseball cap.
Fans wishing to hone their handicapping skills can take part in a casual Learn to Win Seminar in the Park area hosted by horseplayernow.com’s Joe Kristufek and Brian W. Spencer from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Those wishing to get a head start on their Million Preview Day handicapping can take part in a special one-hour Million Preview Day Big Event chat that will take place Thursday, July 12, starting at 7:30 p.m. (CT) hosted by Kristufek and featuring Arlington Park on-air handicapper Jessica Pacheco. The chat can be accessed at arlingtonpark.com.