The American continent is home to a collection of historic and picturesque racing tracks owing to the country’s association with the game for centuries. Since the sport was limited to the elite and the wealthy, the royalty flowed in through ages making the game more of a luxurious indulgence of the social class.
The Americans built great racing tracks amidst spell-binding landscapes to give the face of the sport an undercurrent boost and also add to its attractive appeal.
The Arlington Park-
There are very beautiful racing tracks on the U.S. soil but one of the most wonderfully created and designed racing tracks happen to be that of the Arlington Park Racetrack. Situated in the Chicago suburbs of Illinois, this racing track was originally owned and started by the California based businessman Harry Brown in 1927. However, it was later sold off to Richard Duchossois, the track underwent a major facelift especially following the tragic fire in 1985.
Despite the entire grand stand destroyed in the fire, the Arlington Million, the most renowned racing event for 3yos and up was held in tents and temporary shelters. The track was also awarded the Eclipse Award for its relentless dedication and contribution to the spirit of thoroughbred racing.
The Arlington Million, a Grade 1 event, is run for a distance of a mile and a quarter and is participated by 3yos and up. Held mostly in August each year, it is a crucial qualification race for the Breeder’s Cup Series. The purse prize for a million makes this race one of the top money earning priorities for all thoroughbreds.
The Santa Anita Park –
The race track, located at Arcadia, California, U.S. is one of the most beautifully situated in the continent. With its backdrop of San Gabriel Mountains, the mile long dirt track with its inner running seven furlong turf is one of the oldest racing tracks in the region. Originally owned by Charles Strub and Hal Roach, the track boasts of exquisite art deco put in place by the famous architect, Gordon Kaufman.
The paddock boasts of a life sized statue of the great thoroughbred racehorses, Seabiscuit who was also the memorable winner of the Big Cap, the Santa Anita Handicap. There are also statues of great equestrians and jockeys, including George Woolf and Laffit Pincay, Jr. One of the most important high purse races held here is the Santa Anita Derby.
The race, is primarily held for the three year olds and is run for a mile and one eighth. When it was conceived, it was a distance of 1 1/16 miles and then increased to 1 1/4miles until 1947. The million dollar race was won by Sham in 1973 and by I’ll Have Another this year.
The Del Mar Racetrack –
The racetrack built by the famous Bing Crosby in association with few other partners, was inaugurated in 1937. Situated at the sea side of Del Mar, California, the race track is famous for its slogan, “Where The Turf Meets The Surf.” The one mile long dirt track and a seven furlong turf track along with its newly installed polytrack makes Del Mar the prime spot for thoroughbred racing events. Its facility can contain thousands of horses and the grandstand is a state-of-the-art facility. The track celebrates its racing season in the summers and homes a crucial qualification race for the Breeder’s Cup Classic, the Pacific Classic Stakes.
The race, open to three year olds and up, offers a purse prize of a million and is a mile and a quarter long. The Grade 1 event, hosted during the seven weeks of Del Mar Racing Season, is one of nation’s most premier events.
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