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  • The Social Buzz with Alyssa Ali

    Girls Day Out

    Holy guacamole were there a lot of people here on July 3rd! Over 32,000 people joined us at Arlington for our racing and fireworks extravaganza! Hope everybody had fun...that was quite a show. (And a big thanks to 11 year old Ryan for winning me that stuffed animal pig!) When summer is in full swing, it is the best time to relax outside and hangout with friends, and I've noticed that a lot of ladies have figured out that Arlington is a perfect location for their girls day out. My mom recently decided to have her and her friends from high school out to the track.

    Alyssa Ali

    From fashion and celebrity sightings to food and cocktails, I've got your inside scoop from the park.

  • Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Catching Up

    Sorry for the delay in posting recently, Million week caught up with me and I've been unwinding as best I could....and after all the excitement that day, it was tough to have any energy left. Some thoughts: :::I couldn't be happier for Mr. D. to get that win in the Beverly D. with Eclair de Lune. He's a well-respected, total class act who is always very kind and friendly when making his way through the press box to say hello.

    Brian W. Spencer

    Wagering advice and coverage of races at Arlington Park and across the nation.

  • The Jock with Inez Karlsson

    Once in a Million

    In my last blog, I talked about setting goals. Currently I am preparing myself for the next step in a two part goal. The first goal is to ride in the Arlington Million. My second goal is to “WIN” the Arlington Million. On Saturday, I will be riding Rahystrada in this year’s Arlington Million. Of course, I am hopeful that my second goal to win the Arlington Million will come true on Saturday too! To accomplish this goal I know I have to keep my normal routine. When you are a jockey that is riding in the Million, your normal routine isn’t so easy to maintain.

    Inez Karlsson

    Enjoy this one of a kind chance to go up close and personal with of our premier jockeys!

  • Catching Up

    About 1 week ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Sorry for the delay in posting recently, Million week caught up with me and I've been unwinding as best I could....and after all the excitement that day, it was tough to have any energy left.

    Some thoughts:
    :::I couldn't be happier for Mr. D. to get that win in the Beverly D. with Eclair de Lune. He's a well-respected, total class act who is always very kind and friendly when making his way through the press box to say hello. The horse ran great and the connections couldn't have deserved it more.

  • Final Festival Thoughts

    About 3 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Had another great morning out at AP today, and saw several other runners that I hadn't seen yesterday.

    The big thing that stood out to me is how wide open this Beverly D. is -- anyone that you like, it'd be pretty wise to stick with them, as it seems as though a case can be made for most of these. With the defection of favored Rainbow View from an already difficult to figure race, it became even that more wide open.

  • Once in a Million

    About 3 weeks ago The Jock with Inez Karlsson

    In my last blog, I talked about setting goals. Currently I am preparing myself for the next step in a two part goal. The first goal is to ride in the Arlington Million. My second goal is to “WIN” the Arlington Million. On Saturday, I will be riding Rahystrada in this year’s Arlington Million. Of course, I am hopeful that my second goal to win the Arlington Million will come true on Saturday too! To accomplish this goal I know I have to keep my normal routine.

  • Thursday Morning Sightings

    About 3 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Got out to the track bright and early this morning, and caught a glimpse of a couple of Festival runners.

  • Saturday Comes Into Focus

    About 3 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    We all know, and have been following closely, which runners were going to be coming to the "Big 3" Grade I races on Saturday, and those races were drawn yesterday (Tuesday). Gio Ponti and Paddy O'Prado loom heavy favorites in their respective races, while the Beverly D. became a wide-open affair that is still boggling my mind some 72 hours from post time. I'll offer up some analysis of that race in the coming days, but my goodness, I'll be honest, I may say that I like two or three horses here and wind up liking two or three more by post time. It's THAT kind of a race! Oy.

  • More Than Just Goals

    About 4 weeks ago The Jock with Inez Karlsson

    I was recently asked what goals I have set for myself as a jockey. I have set goals throughout my racing career and plan to continue this practice as long as I am racing. I am proud to say that I am doing well at achieving the goals that I have set so far. One thing that helps me achieve my goals is the motivation and encouragement I get from other people.

  • A Farewell to Tuscan Evening

    About 4 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    For those of you that haven't heard, likely Beverly D. favorite Tuscan Evening passed away earlier this week after a morning workout.

    Her story was rather remarkable, having gone from a mostly useless European runner to a multiple Grade I-winning turf mare. Her metamorphosis was incredible. While I was hoping to try to beat her at the windows in the Beverly D., it was a privilege to have seen her race up close and in person here when she won the Grade III Modesty as part of Million Preview Day.

  • Who's ready for August 21?

    About 5 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    We're less than three weeks away from the Arlington Million, and though this is horse racing and things can change in a matter of minutes, the prospective fields for the three big events are coming up very strong. Lots of European involvement, lots of runners with local success coming back to stake their claim in a Grade I, and competitive races shaping up in all three main events.

  • It Never Gets Old

    About 6 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    I'm very fortunate to have a job in this game. I'm still pretty young and have loved horse racing since I was a little kid. Though I'm fully immersed in the game year-round and rarely get a day off during the summer, I never wake up and don't feel like going to work.

  • A short Preview Day recap

    About 7 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Not too much to say about Preview Day, as all three winners were very deserving.

    TUSCAN EVENING was allowed to set ridiculous fractions, and once they clocked a lethargic 3/4 of a mile, there was simply no catching her. Will she get away like that in the Beverly D? If so, she'll be long gone there too. RAINBOW VIEW seemed to get a curious ride, in my opinion, as she has a bit of tactical pace but was taken back near the rear of the field chasing the walk they were going up front -- she had absolutely no chance turning for home, and I think she's better than she showed.

  • Are you ready for Preview Day? I am!

    About 8 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Saturday here at Arlington we'll host Million Preview Day which includes the running of three graded stakes races designed as final preps for their respective Grade I races on Arlington Million Day.

    If I had to sum up Saturday's race card in one word? WOW!

  • Riding No Matter What

    About 8 weeks ago The Jock with Inez Karlsson

    How does the construction worker prepare for his day? He watches the weather and so do I. Even though I wear the same kind of outfit each day and my hair is under a helmet, I still have to watch the weather before work to prepare for the day. Doing this keeps me from getting sick. Because no matter how bad I feel, even if I have a fever, and if it’s raining or burning hot, I still work.

  • My Typical Week

    About 9 weeks ago The Jock with Inez Karlsson

    A typical work week for me is Wednesday through Monday with Tuesday off and races on Thursday through Sunday. I usually take one day off a week. However, there are times when I will travel to other tracks and race there for certain races. When I have a day off, I do have a few things I like to do.

    First I like to clear my head. Now that I am more of an established jockey, I like to leave work and leave all my work business at work.

  • How About Jozbin?!

    About 9 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    I've got to say that in my handicapping, the jockey doesn't usually factor in very much. I don't pay much attention unless I'm getting what I consider to be a huge upgrade, but that's pretty rare.

  • Girls Day Out

    About 9 weeks ago The Social Buzz with Alyssa Ali

    Holy guacamole were there a lot of people here on July 3rd! Over 32,000 people joined us at Arlington for our racing and fireworks extravaganza! Hope everybody had fun...that was quite a show. (And a big thanks to 11 year old Ryan for winning me that stuffed animal pig!)

    When summer is in full swing, it is the best time to relax outside and hangout with friends, and I've noticed that a lot of ladies have figured out that Arlington is a perfect location for their girls day out.

  • Weekend Action and Learn to Win

    About 10 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Well we've got a couple of stakes races this weekend, including the Grade III Arlington Oaks for the sophomore distaffers on Saturday, and then we've got the Chicago Handicap for female sprinters on Sunday.

  • My First Day on the Job

    About 10 weeks ago The Jock with Inez Karlsson

    Each first day on a new job is different for everyone. My first day on the job as a jockey was not your normal first day. I bet I was ten times more nervous than anyone else. Everything was coming together fast, I had worked so hard to get to my first race and I needed to prove so much.

  • Every Now and Then...

    About 10 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    ...I am reminded of some of the warriors in this game. On Saturday, we played host to some shippers for the Arlington Sprint, and the eventual winner was Chamberlain Bridge. I've followed this horse for some time in covering racing around the Midwest, his general circuit, and I'm not sure there are many horses out there who try as hard as this guy does.

  • Chicago Sports at AP

    About 11 weeks ago The Social Buzz with Alyssa Ali

    Ahh Chicago during the summer. Got to love it! While we are going strong at Arlington with our season...some of our favorite Chicago sports teams are now taking it easy during their off season. And where else to take it easy besides Arlington Park?!

  • Welcome Back!

    About 11 weeks ago Racing 411 with Brian W. Spencer

    Apologies for the late start this season, but we're officially back in business here at Racing 411!

    The timing is actually pretty good, too, because we're out of the mayhem of Triple Crown season, and we just passed Prairie State Day here at Arlington this past Saturday, and that always reminds me that it's mere weeks until Million Preview Day and then we quickly approach Million Day! Congratulations to all of the winners on Saturday's card.