Arlington Million

The Arlington Million (run in 2021 as the Mr. D Stakes) was a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It was raced annually in August over a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (approximately 2,000 metres) on the turf at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.[1]

Arlington Million
Grade 1 race (discontinued)
LocationArlington International Racecourse
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Inaugurated1981 (1981)
Last run2021 (2021)
Race typeThoroughbred
WebsiteArlington International Racecourse
Race information
Distance1+1⁄4 miles
Record1:58.69, Awad (1995)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification3-year-olds & Up, Thoroughbreds
WeightWeight for age
Purse$600,000

The Arlington Million was the first thoroughbred race to offer a purse of US$1,000,000. It is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, and the winner automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Turf.[2]

The Arlington Million was introduced in 1981 by Joe Joyce, the father of TVG's Mike Joyce and the president of Arlington Park at the time. The winner receives 60% of the million dollar purse and the Arlington Million Trophy. The race was graded after only its second running and was awarded a grade one status in 1983 based on the talent of the runners that raced in its first two years.[1]

The horse John Henry won the race twice.[3][4] On August 30, 1981, Willie Shoemaker became the first jockey to win a $1 million thoroughbred horse race when John Henry took the inaugural Arlington Million by a nose over The Bart. The track famously ran the Arlington Million in 1985 under the shadow of a burnt-out grandstand, after a fire had occurred there 25 days earlier. In 2007, Jambalaya became the first Canadian bred horse to win the Arlington Million, with his trainer, Catherine Day Phillips, being the first female trainer to ever win the race.[5]

The race had been run under several different names in the past: In 1981, it was called the Arlington Million Invitational Stakes; from 1982 through 1984 it was known as the Budweiser Million Stakes; from 1985 through 1987, it was the Budweiser-Arlington Million. In 1988, the race was held at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to accommodate for the completion of repairs from a 1985 fire, and there was no race held in 1998 or 1999 during a two-year shutdown of Arlington Park.[1] In 2021, the race was called the "Mister D. Stakes" after Richard L. Duchossois with a purse of $600,000. It was also likely the last running of the race unless a race with an equivalent purse is established at Hawthorne Race Course, as Arlington Park closed after the 2021 season.

Several times throughout the race's history, it was nationally televised, usually through a simulcast aired on WGN-TV picked up by their superstation feed, NBCSN, and TVG throughout the years.

Records

Time record:

  • 1:58.69 - Awad (1995)

Most wins:

Longest odds:

  • 40.60 - Mill Native (1988)

Shortest odds:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Largest Margin of Victory:

  • Estrapade (1986), Five Lengths

Shortest Margin of Victory:

Winners of the Arlington Million/Mister D. Stakes
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time Ref
2021 Two Emmys 5 James Graham Hugh Robertson Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson 2:03.34 [6]
Became the Mister D. Stakes
2020 Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7]
2019 Bricks and Mortar 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad Brown Klaravich Stables, Inc. and Lawrence, William H. 1:59.44 [8]
2018 Robert Bruce (CHI) 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad Brown Convento Viejo LLC 2:02.29 [9]
2017 Beach Patrol 4 Joel Rosario Chad Brown Covello / Sheep Pond / Head Of Plains 2:02.39 [10]
2016 Mondialiste 6 Daniel Tudhope David O'Meara Geoff and Sandra Turnbull 2:01.87 [11]
2015 The Pizza Man 6 Florent Geroux Roger A. Brueggemann Midwest Thoroughbreds 2:02.20 [12]
2014 Hardest Core 4 Eriluis Vaz Edward Graham Andrew Bentley Stables 2:01.51 [13]
2013 Real Solution*** 4 Alan Garcia Chad Brown Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. 2:00.99 [14]
2012 Little Mike 5 Ramon Dominguez Dale Romans Priscilla Vaccarezza 2:02.44 [15]
2011 Cape Blanco 4 Jamie Spencer Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor / Mrs F Hay 2:05.39 [16]
2010 Debussy 4 William Buick John Gosden Princess Haya of Jordan 2:03.01 [17]
2009 Gio Ponti 4 Ramon Dominguez Christophe Clement Castleton Lyons 2:04.19 [18]
2008 Spirit One 4 Ioritz Mendizabal Philip Demercastel Kamel Chehboub 2:02.17 [19]
2007 Jambalaya 5 Robby Albarado Catherine Day Phillips Todd & Catherine Day Phillips 2:04.76 [20]
2006 The Tin Man 8 Victor Espinoza Richard Mandella Ralph and Aury Todd 2:01.35 [21]
2005 Powerscourt 5 Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Sue Magnier 2:03.38 [22]
2004 Kicken Kris ** 4 Kent Desormeaux Michael R. Matz Brushwood Stable 2:00.08 [23]
2003 Sulamani * 4 David R. Flores Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:02.29 [24]
2002 Beat Hollow 5 Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 2:02.94 [25]
2001 Silvano 5 Andreas Suborics Andreas Wöhler Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof 2:02.64 [26]
2000 Chester House 5 Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 2:01.37 [27]
No race 1998 - 1999
1997 Marlin 4 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor 2:02.54 [28]
1996 Mecke 4 Robbie Davis Emanuel Tortora James Lewis Jr. 2:00.49 [29]
1995 Awad 5 Eddie Maple David G. Donk Ryehill Farm 1:58.69 [30]
1994 Paradise Creek 5 Pat Day William I. Mott Masayuki Nishiyama 1:59.78 [31]
1993 Star of Cozzene 5 José A. Santos Mark Hennig Team Valor Stable 2:07.50 [32]
1992 Dear Doctor 5 Cash Asmussen John Hammond Henri Chalhoub 1:59.84 [33]
1991 Tight Spot 4 Laffit Pincay, Jr. Ron McAnally Anderson, Winchell & Carradini 1:59.55 [34]
1990 Golden Pheasant 4 Gary Stevens Charlie Whittingham Summa Stable & Wayne Gretzky 1:59.60
1989 Steinlen 6 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Wildenstein Stable 2:03.60
1988 Mill Native 4 Cash Asmussen André Fabre C. N. Ray 2:00.00
1987 Manila 4 Angel Cordero Jr. LeRoy Jolley Bradley M. Shannon 2:02.40
1986 Estrapade 6 Fernando Toro Charlie Whittingham Allen E. Paulson 2:00.80
1985 Teleprompter 5 Tony Ives Bill Watts 18th Earl of Derby 2:03.40
1984 John Henry 9 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Dotsam Stable 2:01.40
1983 Tolomeo 3 Pat Eddery Luca Cumani Carlo d'Alessio 2:04.40
1982 Perrault 5 Laffit Pincay, Jr. Charlie Whittingham Serge Fradkoff & Baron Thierry van Zuylen 1:58.80
1981 John Henry 6 Willie Shoemaker Ron McAnally Dotsam Stable 2:07.60
* Storming Home finished first in 2003 but was demoted to fourth place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
** Powerscourt finished first in 2004 but was demoted to fourth place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
*** The Apache finished first in 2013 but was demoted to second place following a Stewards' Inquiry.

References
  1. Arlington Million history at Arlington Park
  2. Breeders' Cup Challenge Archived 2008-09-13 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - August 31, 1981
  4. Milwaukee Sentinel - August 27, 1984
  5. USA Today - Aug 12, 2007
  6. "2021 Mr. D. Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  7. Arlington Set to Start Shortened Season
  8. "2019 Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. "2018 Arlington Million XXXVI Stakes Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. "2017 Arlington Million XXXV Stakes Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. "2016 Arlington Million XXXIV Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  12. "2015 Arlington Million XXXIII Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  13. "2014 Arlington Million XXXII Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  14. "2013 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. "2012 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  16. "2011 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  17. "2010 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  18. "2009 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  19. "2008 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  20. "2007 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  21. "2006 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 August 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  22. "2005 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 August 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  23. "2004 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  24. "2003 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 16 August 2003. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  25. "2002 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 August 2002. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  26. "2001 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 August 2001. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  27. "2000 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 August 2000. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  28. "1997 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 August 1997. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  29. "1996 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 August 1996. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  30. "1995 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 August 1995. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  31. "1994 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 28 August 1994. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  32. "1993 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 August 1993. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  33. "1992 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 September 1992. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  34. "1991 Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 September 1991. Retrieved 16 August 2021.

Notes
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.