Arlington Park officials announced that they will offer a $500,000 bonus to
the owner of any horse who can sweep the Mid-America Triple at the suburban
Chicago racecourse.
The Mid-America Triple is a three-race series for three-year-olds that
consists of the $150,000 Arlington Classic, the $300,000 American Derby (G2) and
the $400,000 Secretariat S. (G1). All three races will be run over Arlington’s
turf course.
“For many years, the races that make up the Mid-America Triple attracted some
of the best sophomores in training,” said Kevin Greely, Arlington Park’s vice
president of racing and racing secretary. “By offering this lucrative bonus, we
hope to not only reward success but also to restore this historic series to its
past luster.”
The 1 1/16-mile Arlington Classic will be run for the 75th time on May 23.
The American Derby, going 1 3/16 miles, is Chicago’s oldest stakes race dating
back to 1884 and will be held for the 95th time as part of Arlington’s Million
Preview Day card on July 11. The Secretariat, the final leg of the Triple at the
classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, will have its 33rd running and be contested as
part of the International Festival of Racing on August 8.
Only one horse — Honor Glide in 1997 — has captured the Mid-America Triple
in its current all-turf configuration. Tom Rolfe and Buckpasser swept the Triple
in 1965 and 1966, respectively, when the series consisted of the Arlington
Classic, the American Derby and the Chicagoan — all on dirt.
In order to give horsemen ample time to nominate to the Mid-America Triple
and take advantage of the newly-added bonus, the deadline for nominations has
been pushed back by two weeks to April 10. Arlington officials will be at tracks
around the country to solicit nominations.
Arlington Park will run a 98-day meet in 2009 from May 1 through September
27.