Chicagoans have been enjoying great weather for the past four days. Saturday, the day on which the Arlington Million, the richest event in Chicago's thoroughbred calendar, will be run, promises to be a glorious day. It is going to be a typical mid-summer day tailor-made for an exciting day at the races.

A devastating fire reduced Arlington Park to ashes in 1985. Undaunted, the management of Arlington Park conducted the 'Million' in a 'tent setting.' There was inconvenience but there was hardly any dampening of the spirit Arlington was rebuilt and has become one of the premier tracks in the world..

The first Arlington Million, run in 1981, produced a nail-biting finish. The strongly-fancied John Henry, Bill Shoemaker up, beat The Bart, Eddie Delahoussayeup, by the narrowest of margins. John Henry, a castaway at one point in his career, won Arlington's showpiece a second time and to this day, is the only horse to have won the Grade I race twice. Chris McCarron rode John Henry in the gelding's second win.

Arlington Park has been called the Taj Mahal of racecourses. It is easy to understand why. It is a palatial structure. The track is located in Arlington Heights, a northwest suburb of Chicago. It is an about an hour's drive from downtown Chicago. A sense of exhilaration overwhelms me everytime I step into the confines of Arlington Park. The plant is scrupulously clean. The staff is courteous. Every visitor from India I have taken to Arlington Park has come away with glorious impressions.

Racing at Arlington Park begins mid-May and runs until end of September. On Million day, two other stakes of importace are held. They are the Beverly D for distaffers and the Secretariat Stakes for sophomores. The Beverly D honors the memory of the wife of Mr Richard Duchossois, Chairman of Arlington Park The Secretariat Stakes is a 2000-metre race that attracts the top three year-olds in the world. All the three races are contested on Arlington's world class grass course.

Saturday's 12-race card begins at 11 45 A M. The Arlington Million is the tenth race. Eight horses will go postward. The Million is over 2000 metres. The race carries a guaranteed one million dollar purse.

Archipenko, from Mike de Kock's yard, is the 2-1 morning line favorite. In America, odds are assigned to horses after the acceptance stage. Each number represents a specific percentage. If the percentages are added, the total needs to be between 118 and 123. The excess over 100 makes a provision for the tax which averages 20%. At even money, a horse gets 50% of the money wagered.

At one time in the Aidan O'Brien barn, Archipenko was transferred to Mike de Kock's stable when the Ballydoyle group sold the colt in a private deal. As a four year-old this year, Archipenko has been sensational. The Kingmambo colt has won thrice from five starts. After a third place finish in the Dubai Duty Free in late March, Archipenko won the Q E II Cup at Hong Kong's Sha Tin in April. In July at Ascot, Archipenko was victorious in the Summer Mile, a race in which the Mike de Kock trainee had the beating of accomplished milers including the Godolphin-owned Ramonti. Kevin Shea has rdden Archipenko last four times and continues the partnership in the Million.

I chatted with trainer Mike de Kock after the post position draw ceremony. "Post one is fine. How can I complain? I don't see any problems. Archipenko has come to hand this year. He likes to travel. He loves winning at different tracks. He can go right-handed and left-handed. He has been training well and ready."

Mount Nelson makes the trip from Ireland representing the mighty Ballydoyle operation. The Tipperary-based outfit has won seventeen Group I races in 2008. John Murtagh has been unstoppable. He won two Group I events at 'Glorious Goodwood' less than ten days ago. A Rock of Gibraltar colt, Mount Nelson comes off a success in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in early July. John Murtagh had to dog deep to beat Phoenix Tower in a photo finish but given the form O'Brien's horses are in, Mount Nelson must be given more than an ordinary chance.

I spoke to John Murtagh late Thursday. It was late in Ireland. Not much was asked or answered. He was taking a plane on Friday and arriving in Chicago late Friday afternoon. Ireland is six hours ahead of Chicago. American has four time zones. Chicago is part of the Central time zone.

France is represented by Spirit One who forced Mount Nelson to a photo in Saint Cloud's Grand Criterium in late 2006. Ioritz Mendizabal, who won the French Derby in June at Chantilly, comes in to ride Spirit One.

Einstein is America's main hope. Very effective on the grass, Einstein, a Brazilian-bred carrying a British scientist's name, has several high profile wins in the US in his resume. Robbie Albarado rides.

Stream Cat, Sudan, Cloudy's Knight and Silverfoot complete the lineup.

The Beverly D is the ninth race. It is over 1900 metres. Nine distaffers will answer the starter's call. There is a guaranteed $750,000 prize.

The America-based Precious Kitten is the 9-5 morning line choice. The Bobby Frankel trainee will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano. Mauralakana has French origins but her US wins have been spectacular. Kent Desormeaux will ride Mauralakana. Christophe Clement trains.

Cicerole has considerable merit in her lines and the French filly will take her chances with jockey Mendizabal aboard. Dreaming of Anna, winner of the Filly Juvenile Breeders' Cup in 2006, is in the field. Rosinka, Ciao, Meribel, Toque De Queda and Communique complete the field.

The Secretariat Stakes is the eighth race. The 2000-metre race has nine runers. Tizdejavu is on a hot streak and is the 6-5 favorite. Tiadejavu, a Tiznow colt trained by Gregory Fox, is seeking his fourth consecutive win. Garrett Gomez rides.

Aidan O'Brien has Plan, a Storm Cat colt, in the Secretariat. John Murtagh will be in the irons. Plan is a winner in his last outing at the Curragh.

Dermot Weld (one of Ireland's top trainers) sends out Winchester in the Secretariat. Winchester's sire, Theatrical won the Million many years ago.

Prime Realestate, Strait of Mewsina, Snoose Goose, Your Round, Sr Henry and Secret Getaway make up the Secretariat field.

In the Latest development, in the Million, Sudan has been withdrawn after suffering an injury.