Duchossois’ son blames politicians, not Churchill, for Arlington Park end

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Amid the pageantry of the last Arlington Million Day – a day to honor Dick Duchossois and his family for their contribution to horse racing – Duchossois’ son blamed not Arlington Park owner Churchill Downs Inc. but politicians of Illinois for the planned destruction of the grand racing palace his father built.

Craig Duchossois, his father’s longtime right-hand man in family affairs, called Saturday’s tributes at the racetrack bittersweet and emotional after what he said was the “pleasant but difficult “family in the races and politics of Illinois. His father, the 99-year-old President Emeritus of Arlington Park, was at his Barrington Hills home, where he has spent most of his time since the start of the pandemic.

“I have no faith in our Illinois government, including Governor (JB) Pritzker. Springfield is a bigger swamp than Washington, if that’s possible,” Craig Duchossois said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Herald from his family’s podium. .

Duchossois said Pritzker’s massive gambling expansion in 2019 that awarded much sought-after slots and table games to racetracks like Arlington came “too late”.

By this time, Churchill Downs had already acquired a controlling stake in the neighboring Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, and he quickly declined to apply for the gaming positions in Arlington, which could have helped increase stock exchange accounts for horse racing.

“If they had poked their heads out of the sand and had done it 5 or 10 years earlier, the ball game was completely different,” said Duchossois. “Who knows what would have happened then. But at least we would have had a chance to compete fairly, and they didn’t allow it. And now they’re saying Churchill is at fault? Sense.”

The Louisville-based company that merged with Arlington in 2000 – when the Duchossois family became Churchill’s largest shareholder – put the 326-acre racetrack property in Arlington Heights up for sale last February.

The elder Duchossois retired from Churchill’s board of directors in April 2019, and the son resigned a year earlier. Both are still considered highly regarded directors by the company and have continued to be strong advocates of the direction and business decisions of the company.

Craig Duchossois said internal discussions about a possible sale and redevelopment of the Arlington Park land took place at a board meeting years ago.

“They said, ‘Guys, Arlington is an underutilized asset, and we have a fiduciary responsibility to manage that. And daddy knew it. So it wasn’t a surprise, “he said.” They tried to be very respectful and empathetic. And he appreciated it, and I really respected the way they treated the family in a difficult situation. “

The young Duchossois said his father was moved by the last Million Day, as well as the possible closure of Arlington Park on September 25. But father and son also say they understand business.

“To end up making the riders say that you owe us to sell it to someone who will keep it alive – that’s where (Churchill’s) fiduciary responsibility comes in,” said Craig Duchossois. “They don’t owe anyone anything but doing the right thing, and I’m pretty sure they want to do what’s right for Arlington, the shareholders and whoever the buyer is. ‘act of juggling that I think they’ll probably do just fine. “

Craig Duchossois reserved his harshest criticisms on Saturday for former Governor Jim Edgar and Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, accusing them of “killing” the races in Illinois.

Dick Duchossois lobbied Springfield lawmakers in the 1990s for legislation to make racetracks more competitive among other forms of gambling, from the lottery to riverboats. He closed the trail in 1998 and 1999, before the merger with Churchill.

“Not just our track. Look at the tracks that are still alive and look at their ability to attract horses. We’ve gone from one of the best facilities in terms of horses to even more on the map. Why couldn’t- didn’t they see what was going on in Illinois and adjust? ” said Craig Duchossois.

“My dad’s strategy towards Springfield was just to put our industry on a level playing field so that we could have the same level of scholarship to attract quality horses. And they absolutely refused. Madigan was scared as it would be perceived. like helping someone who had a strong track record. Guess who creates the jobs? Someone who has a strong track record. “

“They killed him.”

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