The Savage Sixties: Wild Night at Arlington Park
Flashback time. I recently stumbled across a ton of ancient racing programs from the mid-late 1960s. Some are in good shape. Some are severely water damaged, unfortunately. But most are legible to some extent.
I’ve only gone through about 20% so far. But already I’ve found the programs from Buckpasser’s 1:32.3 mile, Dr. Fager’s Arlington Classic win, Damascus’ American Derby triumph and the greatest betting night this college kid (at the time) ever had. Please allow me to tell you about that evening.
I’ve had bigger days since then, but at the time, it was a dream come true. It was almost impossible to win big bucks on a limited budget because the only gimmick offered back then was one daily double on the first and second races. And each type of wager (win, place, show, combination, and daily double) had to be made at a separate window. There were also separate windows to cash. The lines were much shorter there. LOL!!
Normally, in Chicago, thoroughbreds race days and standardbreds race at night. But the Illinois harness horsemen were on strike at Washington Park in September of 1969. So Governor Ogilvie’s racing board approved temporary night T-bred racing for Arlington at the request of track owner Marge Everett.
I was a senior in college. Full time student and working 15-20 hours a week part time at a medical clinic making $2.15 an hour. Money was tight. But I always managed to scrounge up a few bucks to bet the horses. You guys know how that is.
First race was a 5000 claimer, 3+, seven furlongs dirt, $4500 purse. Nine entrants. Five fillies and four males. You don’t see that much anymore. I bet 5 WP on a four year old bay filly by Promised Land named Romilda. Trained by Eddie Cole and ridden by Craig Perret. Off at 7-2. Ran third in 1:25. Winner was a horse I bet the previous week named Carlstoe who was trained by Bill Resseguet, Jr. and piloted to victory by Bill Gavidia. Minus $10.00
Second race was at six panels on the main course for $6500 claimers down to $6000. I bet a total of eighteen bucks, $6.00 across the board (three green combo tickets) on 1a Fancy Knave (Resseguet, Eddie Belmonte). The entrymate was scratched. Fancy Knave flew home like a champ at 7-1. Paid $16.80, 6.80, 4.00. Time 1:11. Oh yeah! Plus $54.80
The third was a 20K down to 18K claimer at 6 furlongs on the dirt. Bet 10 WP on a chestnut mare named Controlada (18-1 B. A. Thompson, J. R. Anderson). Raced bad. Bill Shoemaker won on Son O’ Swoon for trainer G. Nugent and owner Mary Keim at 5-2. 1:11.1 Plus $34.80
Fourth event was a MSW for 2YOs. 6.5F main track, $4500 purse. I bet 5 WP on Classic Ticket ridden by Martinez Heath and off at 19-1. Photo for place. Inquiry, too. Classic Ticket finished second but was placed first when the winner, Zoom Loom and Eddie Arroyo, was DQ’d. 40.60, 12.20. Time: 1:20.1 Woo-hoo!! Plus 156.80
Sat out the 5th to spend some of my winnings and get a bite to eat. The Arlington cafeteria had great food. Had a big plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, roll and butter for $1.85. Good decision. Jerry, one winner per meet, Podlinski (remember this name) got his annual victory on Eternal Idol.
6th race was a 20K overnight handicap for fillies and mares, three and up, at a mile and one sixteenth on the grass. Now I’m feeling my oats! 20 WP on the Gallant Man mare, Pattee Canyon, ridden by my Austin High School buddy, Heriberto “Eddie” Arroyo. Eddie, who is now the head steward for the Chicago area tracks, rode her to perfection. Broke 7th, gradually moved up along the rail on the backside, and ran down a dead game Dark Stream (Bobby Nono) right at the wire! $6.40, 5.00. I was delirious now. Plus $230.80
7th was for claimers 10K down to 9K. 7 F dirt. I bet 20 WP on Bomb Star and Herbie Hinojosa. Got nosed out by Free Tumble and David Whited (Harvey Peltier, J.O.Meaux) $7.60 place. 1:24. Plus $266.80
Featured 8th was the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity. 7F dirt. I made my biggest lifetime wager to date. $50.00 win on the chalk, Wheatley Stables highly regarded Irish Castle and jockey Braulio Baeza. I cannot read my comments about Irish Castle. I guess I was too crushed to write legibly. At any rate, he wasn’t in the top four at the wire. The winner was Johnny Rotz aboard Silent Screen. Other riders in the race were Shoe, Eddie Belmonte, Walter Layland, Lonie Ray, Angel Cordero, Jr., David Whited, Craig Perret, Alvaro Pineda, Don Brumfield and Cowboy Jimmy Nichols. 1:22.4. Plus $216.80
Nightcap was truly that. About 11:30 P.M. Six furlongs on the dirt for claimers 7,500 down to 7,000. Nine starters. Six males and three females. I bet $20 WP on a filly named Anne P (11-1) ridden by J. R. Anderson. Nubia and Jerry Podlinski set all the pace and looked to be a sure winner close to home. But Poddles never won two races in one meeting, much less on one card, at AP in his life. Anne P dropped from the clouds to get a narrow decision in 1:12.3. $24.20, 10.80. Plus $526.80
What a night! I’ll never forget that one as long as I live. Thanks for reliving it with me.
Bill Blessing (Nextbonus Stables)