Pet a Thoroughbred
For families who love horses, Arlington Park Racetrack, located 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago in Arlington Heights, Illinois, offers rare behind-the-scenes tours on selected midsummer weekends, when you can get face to face with the horses, jockeys and trainers. Called Breakfast at Arlington, the tours include a hot buffet breakfast and a memorable visit.
Open to all ages, the tour introduces participants to an actual early morning training workout on one of the world’s best-maintained tracks, then moves to the backstretch stables, where a trainer explains or demonstrates bathing, horseshoeing, feeding, grooming and other elements of caring for these special animals.
“You may get a chance to touch the horse or feed it a bite of something. It’s up-close and personal,” says Arlington Park spokesman Dave Zenner.
Back at the paddock area, the tour continues with a visit to the jockeys’ quarters to hear a veterinarian explain care of the horses, along with a blacksmith shoeing demonstration.
Advance online registration at arlingtonpark.com is highly recommended — look under the “Visit” tab. There is a moderate fee for visitors over the age of 4 and dates will be posted about a month before each of the events. Visitors staying in downtown Chicago can take a Metra train directly to the track and back.
Other family activities at Arlington — with no reservations necessary — happen every Sunday between Memorial Day and Labor Day in the park area, including pony rides, a petting zoo and educational programs. On selected Sundays, children 12 years old and under can register for the Junior Jockey Club and get a chance to watch the race from the starting gate.
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