No general admission at '02 Cup

Arlington Park is restricting attendance at this year's World Thoroughbred Championships on Oct. 26 to the 45,000 ticket-holders the track can put into reserved seats, Breeders' Cup and Arlington officials said Tuesday.

It will be the first Breeders' Cup for which racing fans will not be able to buy a walk-up general admission ticket. Arlington officials said concerns about the size of the facility and services at the track led to the decision.

"The concern from the beginning has been to make the event comfortable and convenient," said Dan Leary, a spokesman for the track. "Because our grandstand is so small, the policy has been to design the seating so that everyone is comfortable. It's no fun if someone misses a race because they are waiting in line to bet or go to the bathroom."

Seat prices will range from $285 to $20. Applications for tickets are currently being accepted. The deadline is June 16.

Arlington is installing approximately 35,000 temporary seats for the Breeders' Cup, to be held at the suburban Chicago track for the first time this year.