U.S. to stage $1M race

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 22

U.S. to stage $1M race

NZPA London The world’s first $1 million thoroughbred horse race — the “Arlington

Million” world championship — will be run at Arlington Park, Chicago, on August 29 next year. The president of the Arlington club (Mr Joseph F. Joyce, jun.) made the announcement yesterday in Chicago and will fly to London for a media conference before continuing his promotional introduction in Deauville, Dublin and Cologne. The race will be run over 1800 m on grass for three-year-olds . and upwards, with $500,000 to the winning owner. The 1800 m Was decided as an ideal distance to attract the cream of the world’s top mile, and mile and a quarter horses. Mr Joyce expects that thoroughbreds from England, France, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, and Canada will be among the first nominations. The date was chosen to allow contenders to have established form in the northern hemisphere, while the southern hemisphere will be into its season for four-year-olds and upwards. Horses will become eligible through a series of nominations, beginning with a first payment of $lOOO on December 1, 1980, and nominations will be open to colts, geldings and fillies. There will be three further payments — SUS2SOO on July 1, 1981, the same amount on July 15, 1981, and a final payment of SUS7SOO on August 27, 1981. if declared to run. The field will be restricted to 14 runners, with 10 emergencies. Northern hemisphere: Three-year-old colts and geldings, 54 kgs: three-year-old fillies, 51.5 kg: four-year-old entires and geldings, 57 kgs; four-year-old mares, 55 kgs. Southern hemisphere: three-year-old colts and geldings, 51.5 kgs; three-year-old fillies, 49.5 kgs: four-year-old entires and geldings, 55 kgs; four-year-old mares, 52.5 kgs.