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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize and honor the first
4responders who 30 years ago gallantly fought the spectacular
5fire that destroyed Arlington Park Racecourse's clubhouse and
6grandstand; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Arlington International Racecourse opened in 1927
8as "Arlington Park" and was hailed by the Chicago Tribune as
9"the greatest racecourse in America and one of the greatest in
10the world", a reputation that still exists today; the current
11facility reopened in 1989 to reviews as one of the world's
12finest racing and entertainment venues; and
 
13    WHEREAS, During the ensuing years, many of racing's biggest
14and brightest stars competed at Arlington Park, including
15Armed, Bewitch, Buckpasser, Busher, Candy Spots, Cigar,
16Citation, Coaltown, Dr. Fager, Equipoise, John Henry, Nashua,
17Native Dancer, Round Table, Secretariat, Spectacular Bid,
18Swaps, Tom Rolfe, T. V. Lark, Twilight Tears, and Whirlaway;
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, In 1981, Arlington International Racecourse
21introduced the first million dollar thoroughbred race with the
22inaugural running of the Arlington Million won by the famous

 

 

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1John Henry and ridden by legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker; and
 
2    WHEREAS, On July 31, 1985, a fire broke out in the historic
3Post and Paddock Club at the track and soon spread to the
4entire grandstand and clubhouse; and
 
5    WHEREAS, 150 firefighters were called to this 5-alarm fire
6from the fire departments of Arlington Heights and 24 other
7northwest Illinois communities; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The fire soon engulfed the entire facility and
9exceeded the best efforts of the brave men and women to contain
10it; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The heroic efforts of these firefighters
12prevented the loss of any lives; and
 
13    WHEREAS, During the next 25 days after the fire, Arlington
14Park's owners, led by Richard L. Duchossois, worked 20 hours
15per day to clean away the 7,000 tons of steel and 14,000 tons
16of other debris and erected a tent village along with bleachers
17to enable the running of the Arlington Million on August 25,
181985; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The 1985 Arlington Million is known as the
20"Miracle Million", which was won by a horse from Great Britain

 

 

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1named Teleprompter, owned by Lord Derby whose family's name is
2used for the Kentucky Derby and derbies throughout the world;
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Arlington Park received the highest honor in
5racing - the Eclipse Award - in 1985 "in recognition of the
6indomitable spirit of the officers and staff for a 'Miracle';
7Well done"; and
 
8    WHEREAS, August 15, 2015 is the 30th Anniversary of the
9"Miracle Million'; and
 
10    WHEREAS, On July 31, 2015, Arlington International
11Racecourse is recognizing these firefighters for their efforts
1230 years ago in a special ceremony; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15honor the firefighters who fought this fire 30 years ago on
16July 31, 1985, and the owners and staff of Arlington
17International Racecourse for the achievement of conducting the
18Miracle Million on August 25, 1985; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
20presented to the Arlington Heights Fire Department and to
21Arlington International Racecourse as an expression of our

 

 

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1esteem and respect.