It’s sadly ironic that coinciding with the demolition of Arlington Park this month is the 50th anniversary of a race at the track run by a thoroughbred many acclaim as the greatest in history.

       At the height of his career, coming off a monumental victory in the Belmont Stakes that made him the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, Secretariat raced before a crowd of 41,223 in the custom-made $125,000 Arlington Invitational Stakes on June 30, 1973, and won in a nine-length runaway, missing the track’s 1 1/8-mile record by one-fifth of a second when he crossed the finish line in 1 minute, 47 seconds.

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       There was win betting only on the four-horse race, and Secretariat paid $2.10, the lowest amount allowed under the Illinois racing statute. The track had to contribute $17,941 to make up for a minus-pool shortfall. The other three horses were linked in the wagering as the field.