Questions about Arlington Park
 

My girlfriend and I are taking a trip to Chicago this July, and on the Saturday we are there I told her I wanted to go to Arlington Park to watch the races. Anyone have any helpful tips for planning the trip to Arlington racetrack since I have never been there before. I read this on the site, has anyone tried it?

Terrace Cafe
Arlington Park’s NEWEST reserved seating venue – located just past the finish line on the apron level. Available Friday – Sunday - $20 reserves the table for the entire day! Tableside food and beverage service. Self-Service wagering terminal conveniently located in the Café. Call 847.385.7410 for reservations.

Thanks,
Austin

Where are you staying in Chicago? That will help in getting you in and out of the park the easiest and which parking lots to use. Your best experience ( unless you like the Grandstand seating) is to just get in General Admission and head straight to the benches in the front. As you are facing the track, head left towards the "Party in the Park" area...Picnic tables, live music, chick watching, etc. You can bring in coolers, food etc, but no booze. That you have to buy there. And they will search your cooler coming in. You can also turn right facing the track and that will lead you to the area described above with the patio seating. But that isn't the greatest perspective for watching the homestretch...There is a food court in the center of the granstand ( inside) and beer stands EVERYWHERE..Hope you like Mille, Heineken or Amstel...

There's a hotel just about right next to the track. Its either a Hilton or Sheraton. And plenty of good restaurants within five miles or so; you don't have to go downtown to find a good one.

It's a Sheraton and it has a huge new water park, if you are into that. Plus they have free shuttles and package rates including admission etc...Might be the way to go if you don't have a place to stay yet

Never sat in the Terrace seating but if the weather is nice I would imagine it's pretty nice. You might want to reserve a table just to have it but I would suggest also going early when the gates open and taking a tour around the facility. That way you can take it all in before the crowds arrive, and you might see something you like better in terms of seating.

Here is another idea, there are many free tables throughout the lower levels either inside or outside in shaded areas under the grandstand. If you get there early you can secure one of these and then you are free to roam around, watch the races, go to the paddock, etc, but you always have a place to come back to out of the heat.

For breakfast before heading over to the track I recommend Dunton House in downtown Arlington Heights. Thats were I'll be!

welcome to the forum GBBob, good to have another local guy.
I also live in AH.

You mentioned Dunton House and I knew you did. I know Bill there quite well as my family and I are regulars there. Joined the board because of Dellinger and Satan's Son...plus all the other clowns I hang with at the track. Thanks for the greetings

Is the Egg Harbor Cafe still there? Wing Street, I believe.

yeah its there, on the other side of the tracks from me.

are you still planning on coming out this weekend?

haha, yeah if you see a guy sitting in there alone with either a racing form or other pp's that's me.
some of the waitresses ask me for tips!
probably we have crossed pathes either at AP or at trackside if you go there.

Irish..What weekend are you planning on coming out?

Clowns?........Those red noses were earned with distinction, Sir.

As I should know...Mine is rounding into form quite nicely

shame those tables are fri-sun only, we'll be there on a wednesday.

You don't need that Terrace crap, just walk around, it is beatiful, and the seating above is free anyways, not the boxes though.

The teenage security guards are out in force this year.

there are alot better places to be than the terrace cafe. it's on the far side of the finish line and there are better places to watch a race from.

If you want to have your own waitress, then if for 2 people, spend an extra $4 and get into one of the TV boxes on the 2nd level ($12 each), then you get your own tv to switch to any other track feed. There are plenty of beer/food stands all over, so you really don't need to have worry about someone bringing everything to you.

There are plenty of free tables in the stretch, picnic tables all over and park benches all around the finish line that are all very good places to watch the races from..... or if you don't want to be out in the sun all day, then get one of the reserved seats in the 2nd level for a couple bucks each.

I would definitely second the recommendation that you get there early so that you can walk around and see everything before the races start (and also to pick out exactly where you would want to watch from).

Personally, I'm normally in the paddock area before the race, then walk to the other side of the facility and watch the races from near the winners circle.

Exactly, that is what I do

gramma d's is my fav place to have breakfast around the arlington heights area, and inside the track my fav place to eat is the paddock pub.......gigantic onion rings=). my best suggestion is for you to get to arlington atleast 1HR prior to first post to get close when you park. you could pay for preferred parking but theres no reason to if you get there early enough, a free shuttle does run in the parking lot but if you arrive late enough you might be parked all the way back near trackside(otb facility) and thats quite a hike. the weather is supposed to be upper 70's and sunny which is obviously very pleasant for this time of the year so expect there to be a nice crowd. bet early if you are going to use tellers and not machines,arlington doesnt have enough in my opinion and some of the ones they do have are quite slow and have long lines

You going Sunday?

Working on it as we speak......