Greely won't be back at Arlington next year

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kevin Greely will not return in 2010 as Arlington Park's vice president of racing and racing secretary, Greely confirmed Sunday at Keeneland.

Greely took the Arlington job in December 2005 after working in a similar capacity for more than 10 years in Dubai. A Kentucky native, Greely said he was grateful to Arlington for "providing an opportunity for me to repatriate to the U.S."

Arlington field size under Greely held fairly steady for three years, and there had been no rumblings of his imminent departure during this summer's meet. And problems Arlington experienced during his tenure came from sources outside Greely's control. In 2006, Arlington suffered a rash of breakdowns on its dirt track, which led to the installation of a Polytrack surface before the 2007 season. This year, handle fell substantially, but only in a manner concordant with general industry trends.

Greely is working the Keeneland meet as a racing official, and said he has no work lined up beyond the fall meet here.

Arlington Park, part of Churchill Downs Inc., declined to confirm that Greely no longer was employed, and had no comment on whom his replacement might be.