When you have a racetrack, and want to honour your late wife, you can hardly do better than running one of the premier filly and mare turf races of the year in her name.  The Beverly D. Stakes takes its name from Beverly Duchossois, wife of Arlington Park chairman Richard Duchossois.  Beverly Duchossois passed away in 1980; this race has been run in her name since 1987.  Once, a horse in Richard Duchossois’s silks won the race run in his late wife’s honour:  in 2010, Eclair De Lune kicked home in the final furlong to win it for the home team.  Other winners of the Beverly D have included Hall of Fame inductee Flawlessly (1991), as well as Eclipse champions Possibly Perfect (1995), Stacelita (2011), and Dank (2013).

The Beverly D. drew a competitive field of nine fillies and mares.  To the winner goes the best share of a $600,000 purse, as well as a Win and You’re In berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.  To date, just one horse has won both races: Dank, who did so her championship year.

Head over to Picks and Ponderings, read my preview of the Beverly D. Stakes (G1), and let me know your thoughts in the comments!