Since the brisk October morning it opened 94 years ago, Arlington International Racecourse has been called one of the world’s most beautiful racetracks in the United States and the world, most recently by Architectural Digest.
Yet, its days are numbered as the track’s owner, Churchill Downs Inc., is selling the property.
Here’s a look back at the highs — and lows — of the historic thoroughbred turf course.
‘This is such a grand facility.’ As historic Arlington Park crosses the finish line, horse racing workers wonder how they’ll fill the void ？
June 15, 1927
Ground is broken in Arlington Heights at the site of the new horse racing track, then known as Arlington Park, which was expected to cost $2 million to complete.
July 16, 1927
The first steel beam of the original park is erected.
Oct. 13, 1927
Though still under construction, the track opens for its first season of business. More than 20,000 fans brave the cold weather to celebrate the event in high style. Jockey Joe Bollero guides Luxembourg to victory in the first-ever race at Arlington.
(Chicago Tribune, Oct. 14, 1927)
Jockey Paul Neal wins on Cayuga at the Arlington Races, circa 1920s. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
1933
A completely electric totalizer — the first of its kind — is installed at Arlington. The $250,000 machine takes wagers and reports the volume of betting in the win, place and show pools and the odds against each horse. A nest of 24 electric bulbs is used to form the numbers from zero to nine.
(Chicago Tribune, June 19, 1933)
1934
Arlington runs turf races for the first time in Illinois history.
A view of the paddock before a race at Arlington Park Race Track in 1937. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
1940
Stockholders approve sale of Arlington to a new board of directors including Benjamin F. Linheimer, managing director of Washington Park Race Track. Lindheimer operated both parks until his death in 1960.
July 4, 1941
An all-time record crowd of 50,638 visits Arlington.
(Chicago Tribune, July 5, 1941)
June 24, 1953
Jockey Eddie Arcaro becomes the first American rider to record 3,000 wins after scoring three victories that day at Arlington.
July 16, 1955
Nashua wins his only Arlington Park race, taking the Arlington Classic.
(Chicago Tribune, July 16, 1955)
July 1, 1966
Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. records his first victory in the U.S. as he wins aboard Fred Hooper’s filly Teachers Art.
1968
Lindheimer’s daughter and Chicago Thoroughbred president, Marjorie L. Everett, sells Arlington to Gulf & Western Industries.
June 30, 1973
Secretariat makes his only appearance at Arlington. Fresh off his Triple Crown victories, “Big Red” destroys his field in the Arlington Invitational.
(Chicago Tribune, July 1, 1973)
Triple Crown winner Secretariat gallops during a workout with exercise jockey George Davis in saddle at Arlington Park race track in Arlington Heights in 1973. (Associated Press)
July 4, 1976
The first Sunday racing program in Illinois history is held at Arlington.
July 23, 1981
Gov. James Thompson signs a bill into law allowing wagering on out-of-state races. Arlington becomes the first Illinois track to use the new bill when it simulcasts the Travelers Stakes late that summer.
Aug. 30, 1981
Arlington hosts the world’s first million dollar race: The Arlington Million. The result of that race is immortalized in bronze at the top of the Paddock, where the “Against All Odds” 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.
John Henry (1A), with Bill Shoemaker up, wins the Arlington on Million at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Aug. 30, 1981. It was a photo finish with The Bart, ridden by Ed Delahoussaye. (Jim Bourdier / Associated Press)
Aug. 16, 1983
Earlie Fires sets the single-day riding record at Arlington when he rides seven of eight winners. Of the one loss he says, “Turning for home I thought I’d win that one, but I guess she has a habit of losing (23 straight times).” He repeats his own feat in 1987.
Aug. 18, 1983
Arlington is sold to a four-man group headed by Richard L. Duchossois.
Arlington Park Race Track leaders Sheldon Robbins, from left, Joseph Joyce Jr. and Richard Duchossois on Aug. 18, 1983. (Phil Mascione / Chicago Tribune)
Aug. 26, 1984
Almost 40,000 fans watch as John Henry becomes the only horse to win the Arlington Million twice. He missed the 1982 race due to injuries and took second in the 1983 race in a photo-finish.
July 31, 1985
An early morning fire in the adjacent Post and Paddock Club leads to greater tragedy when the fire spreads and destroys the main grandstand. No one is injured.
(Chicago Tribune, Aug. 1, 1985)
Aug. 25, 1985
More than 35,000 fans crowd temporary tents and bleachers to watch the “Miracle Million,” as Great Britain’s Teleprompter defeats Greinton by less than a length. The Arlington team is recognized by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association with an Eclipse Award, the first ever awarded to a racetrack, less than a month following a devastating fire.
(Chicago Tribune, Aug. 26, 1985)
(Chicago Tribune, Aug. 26, 1985)
1986
Duchossois assumes full control of Arlington after buying out partners Joseph Joyce, Sheldon Robbins and Ralph Ross.
Jockey Fernando Toro brings Estrapade home to a runaway victory in the Arlington Million in 1986. (Ed Wagner/Chicago Tribune)
Sept. 6, 1987
With fans drinking a champagne toast, Duchossois is joined by Gov. Thompson, Arlington Heights Mayor James Ryan and a host of union and labor officials in groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Arlington International Racecourse. Construction closes the track during the 1988 season.
Aug. 20, 1988
Mill Native makes history in winning the Arlington Million at Woodbine Race Course in Toronto, as construction of the new Arlington is underway. It’s the first major stakes race to be transferred to another country.
(Chicago Tribune, Aug. 21, 1988)
July 13, 1996
Reigning Horse of the Year Cigar wins his 16th consecutive race, at Arlington, to tie Citation’s modern day record.
Jerry Bailey rides Cigar to cross the finish line on July 13, 1996, to win the Arlington Citation Challenge. Cigar tied Citation's modern North American record with 16 consecutive wins. (Jane Gibson/Associated Press)
1998-1999
Duchossois closes Arlington to protest riverboat gambling in the state.
2000
Churchill Downs Incorporated buys Arlington for a reported $71 million.
Richard L. Duchossois, right, chairman of Arlington International, and Thomas H. Meeker, president and CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated, talk about the merger at a press conference held at the ESPN Zone in downtown Chicago on June 23, 2000. (Milbert Orlando Brown/Chicago Tribune)
Oct. 26, 2002
Hosts a sold-out crowd of 46,118 for the 2002 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships — the first ever held in the Midwest.
(Chicago Tribune, Oct. 27, 2002)
2007
Synthetic race track installed.
May 14, 2010
More than 41,000 people witness an emotional homecoming performance by “American Idol” finalist and Mount Prospect resident Lee DeWyze at Arlington.
2013
Arlington returns to its former name, Arlington International Racecourse, which it was known as from 1989 to 2000.
Alan Garcia, center, riding Real Solution (1), wins the Arlington Million after The Apache (10), right, ridden by Cristophe Soumillon, is disqualified during the 2013 International Festival of Racing at Arlington International Racecourse on Aug. 17, 2013. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)
March 2019
Churchill Downs becomes the majority owner of Rivers Casino.
June 28, 2019
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the Illinois Gaming Act into law, looking to bring in an additional $350 million in annual state revenue, and opening the door to sports wagering and other growth opportunities for gambling operators. Under the law, Churchill Downs has the right to add up to 1,200 casino gaming positions, such as slot machines, at Arlington.
Aug. 28, 2019
Churchill Downs plans to add casino gambling to Arlington, but is considering moving the thoroughbred racetrack. The Louisville, Ky.-based casino and racetrack owner says it plans to apply for a sports betting license for the racetrack under Illinois’ new gambling expansion law. But the requirement that Arlington would have to pay additional taxes on gaming revenues to fund horse racing purses makes a casino there “financially untenable,” CEO Bill Carstanjen says in a news release.
Feb. 23, 2021
Churchill Downs Inc., the Louisville-based company that owns Arlington Park, the state’s flagship racetrack, announces it is putting the Arlington Heights landmark up for sale.
The decision is not a surprise. Churchill Downs Inc., the Louisville-based company that owns the track, drew harsh criticism from the Illinois Racing Board in September 2019 when they declined to guarantee that they would hold racing dates beyond 2021.
April 30, 2021
The park opens for its likely last season.
Horses and jockeys make their way to the track on opening day at Arlington International Racecourse, on April 30, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
June 17, 2021
Chicago Bears team President and CEO Ted Phillips announces on Twitter the team recently submitted a bid to purchase the property at Arlington.
The Chicago Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971 — but they have flirted with leaving the downtown stadium several times since ？
Check out the Tribune’s archives at your fingertips at Newspapers.com.
Sources: Chicago Tribune archives and reporting; Arlington Park; Encyclopedia of Chicago
Arlington International Racecourse: History of one of the ‘world’s most beautiful racetracks’
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