Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund Proceeds	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund Proceeds [Abstract]
Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund Proceeds	NOTE 3 — HORSE RACING EQUITY TRUST FUND PROCEEDS Beginning in 2009, the Company has received payments from the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund (the "HRE Trust Fund") related to subsidies paid by Illinois riverboat casinos in accordance with Public Acts 94-804 and 95-1008 (the "Public Acts"). The HRE Trust Fund was established to fund operating and capital improvements at Illinois racetracks via a 3% "surcharge" on revenues of Illinois riverboat casinos that meet a predetermined revenue threshold. The funds were to be distributed with approximately 58% of the total to be used for horsemen's purses and the remaining monies to be distributed to Illinois racetracks. The monies received from the Public Acts were placed into an Arlington Park escrow account due to a temporary restraining order ("TRO") imposed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, pending the resolution of a lawsuit brought by certain Illinois casinos that were required to pay funds to the HRE Trust Fund ("Casinos"), and the monies were recognized as restricted cash and a deferred riverboat subsidy liability on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. On July 8, 2011, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a thirty-day stay of dissolution of the TRO to allow the Casinos to request a further stay of dissolution of the TRO pending their petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. On August 5, 2011, the United States Supreme Court denied an application by the Casinos to further stay the dissolution of the TRO. On August 9, 2011, the stay of dissolution expired and the TRO dissolved, which terminated the restrictions on the Company's ability to access the HRE Trust Funds held in this escrow account. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has received $45.4 million in proceeds, of which $26.1 million has been designated for Arlington Park purses. Arlington Park intends to use the remaining $19.3 million of the proceeds to improve, market, and maintain or otherwise operate its racing facility in order to conduct live racing, which the Company has recognized as miscellaneous other income in its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

NOTE 3 — HORSE RACING EQUITY TRUST FUND PROCEEDS

Beginning in 2009, the Company has received payments from the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund (the "HRE Trust Fund") related to subsidies paid by Illinois riverboat casinos in accordance with Public Acts 94-804 and 95-1008 (the "Public Acts"). The HRE Trust Fund was established to fund operating and capital improvements at Illinois racetracks via a 3% "surcharge" on revenues of Illinois riverboat casinos that meet a predetermined revenue threshold. The funds were to be distributed with approximately 58% of the total to be used for horsemen's purses and the remaining monies to be distributed to Illinois racetracks. The monies received from the Public Acts were placed into an Arlington Park escrow account due to a temporary restraining order ("TRO") imposed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, pending the resolution of a lawsuit brought by certain Illinois casinos that were required to pay funds to the HRE Trust Fund ("Casinos"), and the monies were recognized as restricted cash and a deferred riverboat subsidy liability on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. On July 8, 2011, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a thirty-day stay of dissolution of the TRO to allow the Casinos to request a further stay of dissolution of the TRO pending their petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. On August 5, 2011, the United States Supreme Court denied an application by the Casinos to further stay the dissolution of the TRO.

On August 9, 2011, the stay of dissolution expired and the TRO dissolved, which terminated the restrictions on the Company's ability to access the HRE Trust Funds held in this escrow account. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has received $45.4 million in proceeds, of which $26.1 million has been designated for Arlington Park purses. Arlington Park intends to use the remaining $19.3 million of the proceeds to improve, market, and maintain or otherwise operate its racing facility in order to conduct live racing, which the Company has recognized as miscellaneous other income in its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2011.