(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Richard L. Duchossois — a longtime Chicago-area businessman and philanthropist whose name was synonymous with horse racing — has died.
Family members said Duchossois died at his Barrington Hills home Friday at the age of 100.
The native of Chicago's Beverly neighborhood was best known as the former owner of the old Arlington Park horse racing track. He championed its rebuild after a devastating fire in 1985.
Duchossois brought the 2002 Breeders Cup to Arlington Park and owned one of the leading breeding farms in Illinois, according to an obituary from his family. In 2019, Duchossois was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
He also was a World War II veteran who survived some of its most famous battles. He joined the U.S. Army at age 20 and was a tank commander under General George S. Patton in Europe. Duchossois was wounded in action and awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Duchossois participated in several oral history projects for the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, for which he was a trustee.
Arlington Park was acquired in 2000 by Churchill Downs. The Chicago Bears have moved ahead with plans to purchase the site and develop a new football stadium.
Related
