Jack Van Berg, the 49-year-old trainer who Thursday was enshrined in thoroughbred racing`s Hall of Fame, will be taking on some of the best competition Chicago tracks can provide in the next 15 days.
He will run Dear Rick in the richest race in Balmoral Park history, Saturday night`s $60,200 Budweiser-Balmoral Sprint Stakes. Then he will send temperamental but talented Gate Dancer against a world-class field in the Aug. 25 Arlington-Budweiser Million.
Dear Rick will carry the high weight of 120 pounds against 11 adversaries in Saturday`s 6-furlong test. Although Gate Dancer`s major accomplishments have come on dirt, Van Berg believes he can excel on turf.
— Arlington Park officials will make the best of a bad situation when they run the Million without a clubhouse or grandstand. Both were destroyed by fire July 31.
”There will be a little bit of tailgate atmosphere,” said Joe Joyce, Arlington`s president and chief executive officer. ”We like to go first class, and we think this will be a gala festive ambiance and performance.”
Tents will run west to east, starting on what was the site of the Post and Paddock. Most will offer dining facilities. Bleachers will be erected on the adjacent aprons. Those who had reserved seats for the race in the Post and Paddock and the Classic Club before the fire will get choice locations. Box-seat ticket holders will be second on the new VIP seating list.
