NEW EVENTS AND FAN FAVORITES HIGHLIGHT ARLINGTON 2017 RACING SEASON

By Brian Spencer —-

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 2, 2017) – Following the rousing success of the first Arlington Easter Egg Hunt, Arlington International Racecourse is proud to offer the kind of entertainment that has made it a summer destination for families and racing fans for generations. This year features a series of new events to complement returning fan favorites throughout the 2017 live racing season.

Arlington’s 2017 season kicks off May 5 with free General Admission for tickets obtained online. Guests must obtain a print at home ticket to be scanned at the gate upon entry in order to receive free admission. A free hot dog and $1 beer coupon will be provided to the first 2,000 guests to enter the facility. Opening Day will also give fans the opportunity to win one of ten 2017 season passes to Arlington and one of two Arlington Apparel prize packs.

New themed events dot the Arlington calendar this season. Celebrate Arlington’s 90th birthday on May 19 with 90-cent hot dogs, $19.27 combo meals and birthday fun, including winners of prize packs every 90 minutes. Ravinia Day (June 24) will feature Ravinia-style entertainment and specials to bring the experience of the iconic Highland Park music venue to Arlington.

Arlington will conduct two Twilight Racing events this season with a 4:15 p.m. first post. The themed events are Life’s a Beach Night (June 3) featuring Boardwalk favorites and evening racing with live music on the Miller Lite Band Stage. Guests will also have the chance to enter to win Jimmy Buffett concert tickets for his show at Wrigley Field. Hollywood Date Night presented by Maker’s Mark (July 22) will also include live music and roaming entertainment with Hollywood impersonators. Arlington’s annual fireworks show, with live music and entertainment into the night before the best fireworks display in the area, will be conducted July 3 and will also have a 4:15 p.m. first post.

Arlington’s popular themed family days return, with all themed family days featuring amusement rides, live music, roaming entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides, and the Design Your Own Silks contest. Kids are encouraged to color and design their own jockey silks on all Family Days throughout the season, with three winners of the season-long contest having their silks made and worn in a live race at Arlington. The themes for this season’s family days are Little Comic-Con Family Day (June 25), Christmas in July Family Day (July 30) and Galactic Explorers Family Day (Aug. 27). State Fair Family Day returns on May 28 with carnival games, amusement park fun and State Fair-themed food specials.

Breakfast at Arlington (Aug. 6) is a ticketed event that gives guests a chance to go behind the scenes at Arlington. Guests will be able to view live morning workouts while enjoying a breakfast buffet and then get an exclusive tour of the Arlington backstretch, Racing Office, Jockeys’ Building and Television Department. Breakfast at Arlington includes General Admission and Arlington program.

Other new promotions include Friday Friend-zy, a monthly event at which the first 1,000 guests through the gate will receive an exclusive Arlington prize just for coming to the track on the first Friday of each month. Giveaways include an Arlington Umbrella (May 5), Miller Lite Sunglasses (June 2), an Arlington tumbler (July 7), Arlington USB car charger (Aug. 4) and an Arlington reusable grocery bag (Sept. 1).

Another new offering this season at Arlington will be the Social Media Lounge sponsored by N-Jet. The lounge will be located next to Arlington University and will allow guests to “horsepower up” with charging stations for their mobile devices, horse racing video games and lounge furniture that will lend itself to great photo opportunities all season long.

Popular returning events to which guests are encouraged to buy tickets early include the 35th running of the Grade I Arlington Million (Aug. 12), Binny’s Taste at the Track (June 10 and Sept. 9), the annual Food Truck Festival featuring 20 food trucks (July 8), and Party in the Park After Dark with themes of Country Night (June 30), Sports Night (July 28) and 90’s Night (Aug. 25).

For more information on all Arlington events and to purchase tickets, guests may visit http://www.arlingtonpark.com/calendar/grid.

Arlington International Racecourse – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 71-day meet in 2017 from Friday, May 5 through September 23. Arlington International Racecourse, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 10 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities in Aurora, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Waukegan, Villa Park, Rockford, Hodgkins, McHenry, Green Oaks and Orland Hills. Arlington International Racecourse is a proud member of America’s Best Racing. Information on Arlington International Racecourse and Trackside OTB can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arlingtonpark and www.facebook.com/tracksideotb, and on Twitter at @Arlington_Park for the latest happenings, @arlingtonracing for the latest racing news and @tracksideotb for all things pertaining to off-track wagering.