by Danielle Arnet

People go to a racetrack for a lot of reasons, but antiques aren't usually among them. Yet twice a year, Chicago-area collectors flock to a track in the northwest suburb of Arlington Heights for what many call the prettiest antiques show anywhere.

The setting is the eye-catcher. Absolutely, the rebuilt Arlington Park is a pluperfect setting for an antiques show. A virtual web of glass and windows, it offers an open white interior flooded with natural light. Looking out, there are vistas of green and sometimes thoroughbreds and trainers. Entrance on a chilly day in March was through a long white canopy with heaters. Not shabby.

It wasn't always that way. Old-timers remember the old Arlington Park, built in 1927. A rambling firetrap with endless warrens and tiny rooms, it, too, housed a show, known informally as "the Arlington show," and was an obstacle course for dealers and a challenge for showgoers. One peek around a dark corner, and four more small rooms appeared. But the show was a huge draw, and buyers spent, spent, spent.

After Arlington Park burned to the ground in 1985, mourning among dealers and showgoers centered on what would happen to the antiques show. In June 1989 the dazzling new structure, renamed Arlington International Racecourse, opened. In September 2000 the facility merged with Churchill Downs, and the name reverted to Arlington Park.

Eleven years ago, Bill McHugh, who worked the old show as its manager, started Bailiwick Promotions. He also launched The Antique Show & Sale, held in the new building. The show has appeared each March and October since then. (Due to track scheduling, the fall 2001 show will be at the end of November.)

When asked why he called it The show, with an underline, McHugh, as laconic a manager as we've ever seen, ventured that "when we opened, shows were slipping and sliding all over the place, with merchandise that didn't really belong in an antiques show. So I underlined it to emphasize antiques only." We decided not to ask why the word "antique" wasn't underlined.

Some 160 dealers made the March 23-25 show, and by Saturday, quite a few had Cheshire grins. Friday was a buying day; Saturday and Sunday followed suit. All the dealers we talked with were very pleased with their sales. Some did better than others, but no one was bellyaching. We thought the sales were amazing considering that the Dow had hit a new low just before the show opened. Reporting over 11,000 paid admissions, McHugh pronounced himself pleased with the gate.

"This was one of the finest selling shows we've had," said McHugh. Rustic furniture and accessories virtually flew out the door. "There was an old carriage by the back door, that went first! Several dealers with primitives sold out well before the end of the show. I don't know what it was, but it's like an atmospheric thing that happens every third show." We thought it was wonderful to see dealers, who can be a contentious lot, as happy as they were.

We knew something was happening when we entered and saw so many people carrying purchases in floral printed paper bags. Whoever selected the bags had a clever eye; they were everywhere.

Put 160 dealers into some 40,000 square feet, and you can figure that the booths are large. On top of that, some 30took more than one booth space (one seller booked 2½ spaces). Aisles are wide, and the pace unhurried. The only areas we ran into clots of people were at jewelry cases.

When asked why his shows work, McHugh said, "You know those shows where it's like going into a warehouse? This is not a warehouse-type show. I have an enormous mailing list. I'll bet that eighty percent of those people are returns."

He says his winning formula consists of atmosphere (the setting) and a process of screening dealers for background, reputation, and attitude. Then add the hospitality and reliability factors. "My ticket sellers and crew are essentially the same people I've had with me from the beginning."

The track's food service is a factor too. Husbands and bored kids love it. Those who wanted to venture up the dramatic wide staircase to the second floor or tag along with determined shoppers (maybe schlepping those floral bags), fine. Others were content to park themselves at a bank of windows overlooking a green space. There was no better space to enjoy a beer and a hamburger. You have my husband's word on it.