CDI Requests Moving 2023 Arlington Million to Colonial

Churchill Downs Inc. has asked the American Graded Stakes Committee for approval to run the Arlington Million (G1T), Beverly D. (G1T), and Secretariat (G2T) stakes next year on Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs.

Last month, CDI completed its purchase of Colonial Downs and other Pennisula Pacific Entertainment holdings in a $2.75 billion deal that includes gaming opportunities.

The three stakes races were longtime fixtures at Arlington International Racecourse before CDI shuttered the Chicago-area track after racing in 2021, announcing plans to sell that property to the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. The Arlington Million and Beverly D. were staged in the summer of 2022 at Churchill Downs, though the Secretariat and another graded stakes were scrapped due to challenges related to its immature turf course. 

Andy Schweigardt, secretary for the American Graded Stakes Committee, said CDI's request is under review. The committee plans to meet before Christmas to make a decision, he indicated.

"The committee will consider, on a case-by-case basis, applications from racing associations seeking to retain the graded status of a race proposed for relocation to a different venue, provided that the new venue is in the same region as the old racetrack and the name, conditions, calendar date, and purse of the relocated event are substantially similar to previous years," its rules state.

Colonial Downs, in New Kent, Va., has a 1 1/8-mile turf course that the track says is the widest grass racing surface in North America.