Arlington Million Trophy
Encyclopedia
Each year the perpetual "Arlington Million Trophy" is presented to the winners of the Arlington Million
in a national televised award ceremony. The Arlington Million Trophy is one that was commissioned in 1984 and stays on display at Arlington Park
in Arlington Heights, Illinois
year round. Arlington Park is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated
and the parent company lists the Arlington Million as one the country's most important races behind the Kentucky Derby
and the Kentucky Oaks
. The names of the horse and the connections are included in the display.
. Atop the trophy sits a huge solid silver bowl that is 12" tall and 30" wide. The bowl is Etched with the words Arlington Million in the shape of an arch. Inside the arch is a 3" x 5" 14 karat gold relief of the Arlington Park emblem with two horses and a coat of arms. In time this emblem would become the facility's logo and used on marketing pieces for the track.
Even though Richard Duchossois merged Arlington Park with Churchill Downs Inc. several years ago, everyone still thinks of the local oval as Mr. D's place. And indeed, he patrols the facility often and is always a presence in the paddock for big events such as the International Festival of Racing, the annual celebration of racing on turf which features the Grade I Arlington Million. One can count on the festival to lure top horses from throughout the world.
has the black-eyed Susans, the Belmont Stakes
has white carnations, the Breeders' Cup
has Chrysanthemum
s. The Arlington Million calls their blanket their "Million Dollar Flowers." It has a Magnolia backing that is topped with a red and white peppermint striped broad-brimmed blanket. It is arranged with a field of red carnations that is 20" wide surrounded by a 4" trim of two white carnations representing the flowers of the Arlington Million. The entire blanket is 84" long by 24" wide.
Arlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
in a national televised award ceremony. The Arlington Million Trophy is one that was commissioned in 1984 and stays on display at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about 25 miles northwest of the city's downtown. The population was 75,101 at the 2010 census....
year round. Arlington Park is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated
Churchill Downs Incorporated
Churchill Downs Incorporated is the parent company of Churchill Downs. The company owns several other thoroughbred and standardbred racetracks.-History:...
and the parent company lists the Arlington Million as one the country's most important races behind the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
. The names of the horse and the connections are included in the display.
Dimensions of the trophy
The trophy itself is a magnificent work of art. It is a cup (more like a bowl) that stands 24" tall and 30" wide at the rim of the cup. It is made of solid polished silver and 14 karat gold. The base is two platforms that make the foundation of the trophy. The bottom platform is 14" at its base with another platform beveled right on top of the first. Both platforms are made of silver. The base is supporting eight 8" Greek revival silver columns. Those columns are capped by another platform that is encircled by a 14" gold collar that is 1-1/4" tall by 1/8" deep. Inside the collar are 1" 14 karat gold letters that spell the words Arlington MillionArlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
. Atop the trophy sits a huge solid silver bowl that is 12" tall and 30" wide. The bowl is Etched with the words Arlington Million in the shape of an arch. Inside the arch is a 3" x 5" 14 karat gold relief of the Arlington Park emblem with two horses and a coat of arms. In time this emblem would become the facility's logo and used on marketing pieces for the track.
Owners, trainers and jockeys trophies
Although the pertpetual trophy is only used in the ceremony, a 60% solid silver only replica is given to the winning owner each year. That replica stands 18" tall and is 14" wide at the rim of the cup. It is supported by six Greek revival columns. The winning trainer and jockey also receive trophies but these do not resemble the perpetual trophy.Traditions
Richard Duchossois has started several traditions run in relation to the race. The first is right after the race is run, Mr. D. will pass out dozens of flutes of champagne and toast the winners just before watching the replay on the jumbotron. Then the trophies are passed out by Chairman Emeritus of Arlington Park Richard Duchossois and then interviews and commentaries are made.Even though Richard Duchossois merged Arlington Park with Churchill Downs Inc. several years ago, everyone still thinks of the local oval as Mr. D's place. And indeed, he patrols the facility often and is always a presence in the paddock for big events such as the International Festival of Racing, the annual celebration of racing on turf which features the Grade I Arlington Million. One can count on the festival to lure top horses from throughout the world.
Blanket of flowers
Like most signature races, the Arlington Million has its version of a garland of flowers that is draped over withers of the winning horse. This blanket is unlike most prestigious grade one races because it does not have just one type of flower. The Kentucky Derby has roses, the Preakness StakesPreakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
has the black-eyed Susans, the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
has white carnations, the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
has Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
s. The Arlington Million calls their blanket their "Million Dollar Flowers." It has a Magnolia backing that is topped with a red and white peppermint striped broad-brimmed blanket. It is arranged with a field of red carnations that is 20" wide surrounded by a 4" trim of two white carnations representing the flowers of the Arlington Million. The entire blanket is 84" long by 24" wide.