Arlington Park
Encyclopedia
Arlington Park is a horse race track
in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois
. Horse racing
in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks (six) than any other major metropolitan area. Arlington Park was the site of the first thoroughbred race with a million-dollar
purse in 1981. It is located conveniently near the Illinois Route 53
freeway.
businessman Harry D. "Curly" Brown who would later serve as president of Oriental Park Racetrack
in Havana
, Cuba
. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/68.html The track officially opened in 1927 to 20,000 spectators. Jockey
Joe Bollero, who later became a successful trainer
, rode Luxembourg to victory in the first race ever run at Arlington.
Benjamin F. Lindheimer
acquired control of Arlington Park in 1940 and owned it until his death in 1960. Long involved with the business, adopted daughter Marjorie Lindheimer Everett then took over management of the racetrack. Widely respected Hall of Fame
trainer Jimmy Jones
of Calumet Farms was quoted by Sports Illustrated
as saying that Lindheimer "was the savior of Chicago racing" and that "Arlington Park became the finest track in the world—certainly the finest I've ever been on." Benjamin Lindheimer is well remembered as the person who promoted the 1955 match race
broadcast by CBS Television in which Preakness
and Belmont Stakes
winner Nashua
defeated Kentucky Derby
winner, Swaps
.
Arlington was the first track to install a public-address
system and employed the pioneering race caller
Clem McCarthy
to describe the action. It added the first electric totalisator which allowed a credible tote board and decreased time between races, in 1933. In 1936 it added a photo finish camera. It introduced
the first electric starting gate in 1940, the largest closed circuit TV system in all of sports in 1967 and the introduction of trifecta
wagering in 1971.
In 1981 Arlington was the home of the world's first million dollar thoroughbred race: The Arlington Million. The result of that race is immortalized in bronze at the top of the paddock at Arlington, where a statue of jockey Bill Shoemaker riding John Henry
to a thrilling come-from-behind victory over 40-1 long shot The Bart celebrates Thoroughbred racing's inaugural million dollar race.
Arlington entered a new era when Richard L. Duchossois
led an Illinois investment group to purchase the track from its former owners and made a pledge to continue presenting championship racing. That was tested on July 31, 1985, when a small fire spread quickly out of control and completely destroyed the grandstand and clubhouse.
Unsure of the future of Arlington, the meet was moved to Hawthorne Race Course
. Yet it was announced that the Arlington Million would still be held at Arlington Park. On August 25, 1985 they did just that by using temporary bleachers. The track fully reopened in 1989.
In 2000, Arlington reopened after a two-year shutdown. In September of that year, Churchill Downs Incorporated
completed its purchase of the track.
Arlington hosted the 2002 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at their track.
, a citizen of Mount Prospect, Illinois
and a contestant on American Idol
, performed a concert for approximately 41,000 fans. A year later, on May 14, 2011, Haley Reinhart
, of Wheeling, Illinois
, also made the top 3 on American Idol. She, like DeWyze, had a hometown concert at the track for nearly 30,000 of her own fans and supporters.
for over 2,000 horses.
Arlington Park replaced its dirt course with a synthetic track prior to the opening of the 2007 season.
Grade I
Grade II
Grade III
Listed
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about 25 miles northwest of the city's downtown. The population was 75,101 at the 2010 census....
. Horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks (six) than any other major metropolitan area. Arlington Park was the site of the first thoroughbred race with a million-dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
purse in 1981. It is located conveniently near the Illinois Route 53
Illinois Route 53
Illinois Route 53 is an arterial north–south state highway in northeast Illinois. Route 53 runs south from Long Grove at Illinois Route 83 to Gardner at Interstate 55 west of old U.S. Highway 66, a distance of...
freeway.
History
Arlington Park was founded by CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
businessman Harry D. "Curly" Brown who would later serve as president of Oriental Park Racetrack
Oriental Park Racetrack
Oriental Park Racetrack in Marianao, Havana, Cuba was a thoroughbred horse racing facility operated during the winter months by the Havana-American Jockey Club of Cuba...
in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/68.html The track officially opened in 1927 to 20,000 spectators. Jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Joe Bollero, who later became a successful trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
, rode Luxembourg to victory in the first race ever run at Arlington.
Benjamin F. Lindheimer
Benjamin F. Lindheimer
Benjamin Franklin Lindheimer was an American businessman who owned Chicago's Washington Park Race Track from 1935 to his death in 1960 and was the majority shareholder and Managing Director of Arlington Park Race Track...
acquired control of Arlington Park in 1940 and owned it until his death in 1960. Long involved with the business, adopted daughter Marjorie Lindheimer Everett then took over management of the racetrack. Widely respected Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
trainer Jimmy Jones
Horace A. Jones
Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones was an American thoroughbred horse trainer.The son of Hall of Fame horse trainer Ben A. Jones, Jimmy Jones was born in Parnell, Missouri...
of Calumet Farms was quoted by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
as saying that Lindheimer "was the savior of Chicago racing" and that "Arlington Park became the finest track in the world—certainly the finest I've ever been on." Benjamin Lindheimer is well remembered as the person who promoted the 1955 match race
Match race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
broadcast by CBS Television in which Preakness
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
and Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
winner Nashua
Nashua (horse)
Nashua was an American-born thoroughbred racehorse, perhaps best remembered for a 1955 match race against the horse that had defeated him in the Kentucky Derby.Nashua's sire was the good, but temperamental, European champion Nasrullah...
defeated Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winner, Swaps
Swaps (horse)
Swaps was a California bred American thoroughbred racehorse. He was the son of Khaled, a stallion imported from the Aga Khan's stud in Europe. Swaps goes back to the immortal Man o' War, via his dam, Iron Reward, through the Triple Crown winner, War Admiral. In the list of the top 100 U.S...
.
Arlington was the first track to install a public-address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
system and employed the pioneering race caller
Race caller
A race caller is a public-address announcer or sportscaster who describes the progress of a race, either for on-track or radio and TV fans. They are most prominent in horse racing, auto racing and track-and-field events....
Clem McCarthy
Clem McCarthy
Clem McCarthy was an American sportscaster and public address announcer. He also lent his voice to Pathe News's RKO newsreels. He was known for his gravelly voice and dramatic style, a "whiskey tenor" as sports announcer and executive David J...
to describe the action. It added the first electric totalisator which allowed a credible tote board and decreased time between races, in 1933. In 1936 it added a photo finish camera. It introduced
the first electric starting gate in 1940, the largest closed circuit TV system in all of sports in 1967 and the introduction of trifecta
Trifecta
In horse racing terminology, a trifecta is a parimutuel bet in which the bettor must predict which horses will finish first, second, and third in exact order. The word comes from the related betting term, "perfecta". A trifecta is known as a tiercé in France and Hong Kong and as a tris in Italy.It...
wagering in 1971.
John Henry (horse)
John Henry was an American Thoroughbred race horse who had 39 wins, with $6,591,860 in earnings. He was twice voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984, with his 1981 selection is the only one whereby the victor received all votes cast for that award. John Henry was also...
to a thrilling come-from-behind victory over 40-1 long shot The Bart celebrates Thoroughbred racing's inaugural million dollar race.
Arlington entered a new era when Richard L. Duchossois
Richard L. Duchossois
Richard L. "Dick" Duchossois is an American businessman and racehorse owner. He was the founder and Chairman of The Duchossois Group, Inc., a family-owned company headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois that is known for its ownership stakes in Arlington Park and Churchill Downs race tracks, as well...
led an Illinois investment group to purchase the track from its former owners and made a pledge to continue presenting championship racing. That was tested on July 31, 1985, when a small fire spread quickly out of control and completely destroyed the grandstand and clubhouse.
Unsure of the future of Arlington, the meet was moved to Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course is a race track for horse racing in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, near Chicago.The oldest continually-run family-owned racetrack in North America, in 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America...
. Yet it was announced that the Arlington Million would still be held at Arlington Park. On August 25, 1985 they did just that by using temporary bleachers. The track fully reopened in 1989.
In 2000, Arlington reopened after a two-year shutdown. In September of that year, Churchill Downs Incorporated
Churchill Downs Incorporated
Churchill Downs Incorporated is the parent company of Churchill Downs. The company owns several other thoroughbred and standardbred racetracks.-History:...
completed its purchase of the track.
Arlington hosted the 2002 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at their track.
American Idol
On May 14, 2010, Lee DeWyzeLee DeWyze
Leon James "Lee" DeWyze, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter from Mount Prospect, Illinois, and the winner of the ninth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, DeWyze had a solo career and formed the Lee DeWyze Band. He had also released two independent albums called So I'm Told in 2007 and...
, a citizen of Mount Prospect, Illinois
Mount Prospect, Illinois
Mount Prospect is a village in Elk Grove and Wheeling Townships in Cook County, Illinois, about northwest of downtown Chicago. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 54,167.-Geography:...
and a contestant on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, performed a concert for approximately 41,000 fans. A year later, on May 14, 2011, Haley Reinhart
Haley Reinhart
Haley Reinhart is an American singer from Wheeling, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois who placed third in the tenth season of American Idol. Reinhart is currently signed to 19 and Interscope Records.-Early life:...
, of Wheeling, Illinois
Wheeling, Illinois
Wheeling is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of Chicago. The population was 34,496 at the 2000 census, and 38,555 at the 2006 special village census.-Geography:Wheeling is located at ....
, also made the top 3 on American Idol. She, like DeWyze, had a hometown concert at the track for nearly 30,000 of her own fans and supporters.
Physical attributes
The track has a one mile and one-eighth dirt oval and a one mile turf oval. The track is capable of seating at least 50,000 with extension. There is stabling on the backstretchBackstretch
The Backstretch is the area in a horse racetrack where horses are stabled and the training and daily work of maintaining the horses occurs. In many race tracks it will be found directly across the track from the grandstands and may also be called "the other side of the track."-Description:A...
for over 2,000 horses.
Arlington Park replaced its dirt course with a synthetic track prior to the opening of the 2007 season.
TV Personalities
- Caton Bredar (1988–1991) http://www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=Caton+Metzler
- Lynne Snierson (1992–1994)
- Christine Gabriel (1995–1997, 2000–2005)
- John G. Dooley (2000–present)
- Molly Ryan (2006)
- Liane Davis (2006–2007)
- Zoe Cadman (2006–2007)
- Lauren Massarella (2006–2008)
- Joe Kristufek (2006–present)
- Jessica Pacheco (2008–present)
- Alyssa Ali (2007-2008 fill-in, 2009–present full-time)
Racing
The following graded stakes are run at Arlington Park:Grade I
- Arlington MillionArlington MillionThe Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
- Beverly D. StakesBeverly D. StakesThe Beverly D. Stakes is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three-years-old and upward.The Beverly D. Stakes is the fillies' counterpart of the Arlington Million and is raced on the same day and on the same turf course at Arlington Park, Arlington...
- Secretariat StakesSecretariat StakesThe Secretariat Stakes is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1¼ miles . Held annually in mid August, it is the brother of both the Arlington Million and the Beverly D...
Grade II
- American DerbyAmerican DerbyThe American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at the city's old Washington Park race track and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed and the track demolished....
Grade III
- Arlington Classic Stakes
- Arlington HandicapArlington HandicapThe Arlington Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1929 at Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Open to 3-Year-Olds & Up, it is currently a Grade III stakes run in July at a distance of 1¼ miles on turf...
- Arlington Matron HandicapArlington Matron HandicapThe Arlington Matron Handicap is an American Grade III flat horse race for Thoroughbred fillies and mares, aged three years and upward. Raced over a distance of 9 furlongs on the dirt at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois every spring, it offers a purse of $150,000.Inaugurated in 1930,...
- Arlington OaksArlington OaksThe Arlington Oaks is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Arlington Park racetrack near Chicago, Illinois. Raced on dirt over a distance of 1 1/8 miles , the race is restricted to three-year-old fillies. It offers a purse of $100,000.Inaugurated in 1930, after the running...
- Arlington-Washington Futurity StakesArlington-Washington Futurity StakesThe Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes is a Grade III flat horse race for Thoroughbred two-year-olds. It is raced over a distance of 8 furlongs, or one mile, on Polytrack synthetic dirt at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois every fall and currently offers a purse of $150,000.It was run...
- Arlington-Washington Lassie StakesArlington-Washington Lassie StakesThe Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid September at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois...
- Chicago Handicap
- Hanshin Cup HandicapHanshin Cup HandicapThe Hanshin Cup Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Arlington Park racetrack in the Arlington Heights suburb of Chicago, Illinois...
- Modesty HandicapModesty HandicapThe Modesty Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois near Chicago....
- Pucker Up StakesPucker Up StakesThe Pucker Up Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-old fillies held annually in early September at Arlington Park race track near Chicago, Illinois. A Grade III event, it is contested over a distance of 9 furlongs on turf....
- Sea o'Erin StakesSea o'Erin StakesThe Sea o'Erin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early September at Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois...
- Stars and Stripes Turf HandicapStars and Stripes Turf HandicapThe Stars and Stripes Stakes is a Grade III flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and up. It is raced over a distance of 12 furlongs on the turf course at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois as a lead up race to the Breeders' Cup Turf...
- Washington Park HandicapWashington Park HandicapThe Washington Park Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of September at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of a...
Listed
- Arlington Sprint HandicapArlington Sprint HandicapThe Arlington Sprint Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of July at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois...
- Isaac Murphy HandicapIsaac Murphy HandicapThe Isaac Murphy Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late June at Arlington Park racetrack in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The race is run on Polytrack synthetic dirt and is open to fillies and mares, age three and older who were bred in the State of Illinois.The race...
- Lincoln Heritage HandicapLincoln Heritage HandicapThe Lincoln Heritage Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. An ungraded stakes raced on turf open to fillies and Mares, age three and older, it is contested over a distance of 1 1/16 miles .The 2009 edition had to be moved to...
- Round Table StakesRound Table StakesThe Round Table Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A non-graded stakes race open to three-year-old horses, it was last contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of one and one-eighth miles.Inaugurated...
(on hiatus) - American 1000 Guineas StakesAmerican 1000 Guineas StakesThe American 1000 Guineas was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.Inaugurated in 2008, the race was open to three-year-old fillies and was contested on turf over a distance of one mile .The race was dropped from Arlington Park's stakes...