Plainsman beat one horse in his first career start. He beat every horse in his last, a gritty neck decision over Thomas Shelby in the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., on Feb. 12. The victory in the 1 1/16-mile race for older horses made Plainsman a millionaire and came almost exactly 50 years after his owner, John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs, won his first race at Oaklawn. Now among the most celebrated owners in Oaklawn history, Anthony’s Shortleaf Stable, boosted by runners like Plainsman, topped the 2021-2022 meet standings in victories (eight) and purse earnings ($919,116) through Saturday.
Memorial Day Weekend features outstanding racing across the country, including Saturday s six-stakes card at Churchill Downs that culminates with the Aristides Stakes. The Race 10 anchor is a 6-furlong sprint that attracted a field of 10. The sequence of stakes also includes the Grade 3 Matt Winn and Grade 3 Regret. The Aristides is named after the first Kentucky Derby winner in 1875.
Arlington International Racecourse opens for likely final season
FOX 32 s Roseanne Tellez reports.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Friday marks opening day at Arlington International Racecourse.
This season could be your last opportunity to see a race at what many horse racing fans call the most beautiful track in America.
The track is up for sale after nearly a century but all the big events are back for this final year: Derby Day, Mother’s Day, July 3rd fireworks celebration and the Arlington Million, which this year is renamed for Mr. D, as in Duchossois, the track s longtime former owner.
At least one group of horsemen is making a final pitch to buy the track. They say they have the money, but convincing Churchill Downs to sell to a potential competitor to their Rivers Casino is a very long shot.
Updated 4/24/2021 4:54 PM
On the backstretch of Arlington Park is the barn where Larry Rivelli has been going since he was 6.
Now plastered with large Riv logos, the stable serves as Rivelli s home away from his North Barrington home and the base of his large thoroughbred horse training operation.
Arlington s leading trainer for the last eight seasons, Rivelli doesn t want this one to be the last at the iconic Arlington Heights oval.
The grandson and nephew of legendary Arlington trainers, Rivelli is now trying to organize a group of trainers, owners and investors to buy the historic track in hopes of making it shine like the old days.