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The big race of this weekend is Saturdays Arlington Million at Arlington Park, just north of Chicago. And it says a lot about a race when it can wrest the stakes spotlight this time of year from Saratoga and Del Mar.Then again, the Arlington Million has always been a big deal. Its a true trailblazer that broke a glass ceiling the previous existence of which now seems almost quaint.The Arlington Million was first run in 1981, and its inaugural running was won by the great John Henry narrowly over The Bart in a photo that some folks dispute to this very day. As if to address the matter, John Henry went back to Arlington three years later and won the 1984 Million decisively.In any case, the thrilling finish of the first Million was really only part of the story, and maybe not even the biggest part. The Million was special before it was even consummated, and that was because of its purse.As the name suggests, the Arlington Million carried a purse of $1,000,000, making it the first ever million dollar Thoroughbred race. And that made it a major deal in the racing world, and I mean world. The then outsized purse proved a powerful lure for overseas horsemen, spurring international competition.Its funny, but I feel as though I have to explain what a thing it was for the Million to break the seven-figure purse barrier because many who became fans of the sport later on might not fully comprehend the significance of the moment.This is understandable. Certainly the advent and evolution of the Breeders Cup has reset the frame of reference of what big purses in U.S. Thoroughbred racing mean. This year, the 13 Breeders Cup races will have a total value of $25.5 million, with a minimum purse of $1 million that actually applies only to five Breeders Cup races, and spiraling up to $4 million for the Turf, to $6 million for the Classic.But even when you set aside the 13 Breeders Cup races, it might surprise you to know that the Arlington Million, once all alone in terms of value, now has company this year in the form of a staggering 29 other North American stakes with seven figure purses.The Triple Crown races are, of course, members of this club. The 2016 Kentucky Derby had a purse of $2 million, while the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes had purses of $1.5 million, each.The state-to-state breakdown of where these seven figure stakes are run is quite revealing. The Belmont Stakes is one of 11 million-dollar plus events this year in New York, by far the most of any state when you exclude the Breeders Cup, which you must since it is a floating country unto itself, although not nearly as much as it used to be.The state with the next highest number of million dollar-plus races is Kentucky, which has three others in addition to the Derby.Its a bit surprising to me that California has only three million dollar races to call its own (the Breeders Cup will be at Santa Anita this year, but ?), the same as Canada, and only one more than Louisiana and Pennsylvania. But I was also surprised that Florida, which is a major racing center for about 4-1/2 months a year, has only one seven figure race, the same number as West Virginia.That, however, is scheduled to change on Jan. 28, the date of the inaugural $12 million Pegasus World Cup, which, for the moment, anyway, has surpassed the $10 million Dubai World Cup as the richest horse race in the world.Man, just look at what the Arlington Million started.Vapormax Store . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Cheapest Yeezy 700 . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. 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Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents.AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas coach Charlie Strong said Monday he will take a bigger role shaping his battered defense and that all of his coaches will be evaluated after giving up 50 points in a loss at California over the weekend.Weve got two weeks to look at it. Ive been involved in the defense. I can get more involved and I will be more involved, said Strong, a former defensive coordinator at Florida when the Gators won national championships in 2006 and 2008.Strong backed away from suggestions he take over game-day defensive calls from coordinator Vance Bedford, a close friend who has worked with Strong for years.Theres other guys sitting there that have the capability to take over the defense, Strong said. It will get fixed. The defense will get fixed. I can tell you that. Whatever I need to do to get it fixed, its gonna happen. Well get it fixed.No. 21 Texas (2-1) is off until starting Big 12 play Oct. 1 at Oklahoma State (2-1).Strong has made big midseason staff changes in the past. In 2015, Strong demoted former offensive coordinator Shawn Watson after the first game. It made scant difference as Texas finished 5-7.Strong wants to avoid hitting the panic button so soon after Texas 2-0 start revived the Longhorns fan base after two consecutive losing seasons. But watching Cal quarterback Davis Webb carve up the Longhorns secondary raised serious concerns heading into the Big 12, a league where offenses flourish.Texas had problems all over the backfield, from broken coverages to players getting physically beaten in matchups. Even when Texas beat Notre Dame 50-47 in their season opener, the Longhorns surrendered five passing touchdowns. Strong said coaches and players will be heeld accountable for the failures.ddddddddddddouve got to coach it. Coach it hard. Dont say to me, `Well, I told him, Strong said.Texas defensive players defended their coach and called the breakdowns a lack of communication on the field.Safety Dylan Haines predicted Texas wont hit a slide similar to last season when the Longhorns lost four of their first five games.This is not going to turn into what it did last year. Were going to get it fixed, Haines said.But the defensive struggles arent new. Texas gave up at least 30 points six times last season. Against Cal, Texas twice led by 10 points in the first half and grabbed the lead again late in the second. Only a fumble at the Texas 1 prevented Cal from tacking on another late touchdown in the final minute.The loss dropped Strong to 13-15 overall at Texas and he is widely considered to be under enormous pressure to win this year to keep his job.After his second losing season, Strong hired coordinator Sterlin Gilbert to rev up his offense, but stuck with Bedford as his defensive coordinator. The Longhorns have averaged 45 points over the first three games and surrendered an average of 35.Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele shrugged off the defensive woes.Theres no finger pointing. We all trust each other, Buechele said.Strong was too trusting of his defense Saturday night. Facing fourth-and-long from his own 20 late in the game, Strong opted to punt and hope his defense could get a stop. Cal instead ran out the clock.Theyre frustrated, Strong said of his players. They know we let one get away from us. ' ' '