The Breeders’ Cup board of directors finally made it official Monday: Arlington Park has been provisionally selected to be the 2002 host of the eight-race event.
The announcement by Breeders’ Cup Ltd. President D.G. Van Clief confirmed a May 23 Tribune report that Arlington would replace the original choice, Santa Anita. Oak Tree Racing Association, which leases Santa Anita for its fall meeting, had to back out because of a construction project at the suburban Los Angeles track.
Van Clief’s announcement was a bit of a surprise to Arlington Chairman Dick Duchossois. “We haven’t been notified,” he said. “Contracts have to be signed and we’re still putting a lot of things together.
“This is a major, major leap forward for Illinois and Midwest racing. We have dedicated ourselves to becoming a major international racing center and, if ever we are going to revive Illinois racing, we need something like this.”
Three other tracks were provisionally selected to host future Breeders’ Cup championship races–Santa Anita in 2003, Churchill Downs in 2004 and Lone Star Park in suburban Dallas in 2005.