Arlington Park Race Track is a thoroughbred racing facility in Arlington Heights, Illinois
featuring two tracks. Its racing season typically runs from May / June through
September / October.
As one of Illinois’ top Race Tracks, Arlington Park Race Track regularly hosts
high-profile stakes races, among them are the Arlington Million, the Beverly
D. Stakes,
the Secretariat Stakes, Stars & Stripes Breeders’ Cup and the Washington
Park Handicap.
Over the last few years, Arlington Park Race Track took on an active international role
by exchanging races with leading tracks in England and Japan, participating
in global conferences on international racing, and taking on an advisory role
in efforts to develop a worldwide thoroughbred racing series. In various capacities,
it has participated in several international projects including the Emirates
World Series Racing Championship, the Dubai World Cup and the Singapore International
Cup.
Arlington Park Race Track Facts
Main Track - One mile and one eighth oval with chutes for 6½, 7/8, 7½,
1 mile
Composition - 5½ cushion pad - sand top soil mixture, 18% clay,
22% silt, 60% sand
Width - 90 feet wide through the stretch
Distance from last turn to finish - 1,049 feet
Turf Course - One Mile Oval
Composition - Grasses are 15% red fescue, 52% Kentucky blue grass, 31%
perennial rye
Dark brown topsoil with 3% organics
Width - 150 feet wide through the stretch
Training Track - Five Furlongs
Stable Accommodations - 2,140 Stalls, 35 Barns
Arlington Park Race Track Records
Dirt Track
DIST
HORSE
AGE
WGT
DATE
REC
400 Y
De Elegant Oscar
5
124
Aug 25, 2002
:19.71
4 1/2 F
Wheat Penny
2
119
Jun 08, 2000
:51.64
4 1/2 F
Bold America
2
120
Jun 28, 2002
:51.64
5 F
Staunch Avenger
2
119
Jun 29, 1970
:57 1/5
5 F
Heisanative
2
118
Jun 12, 1971
:57 1/5
5 F
Shecky Greene
2
118
Jun 12, 1972
:57 1/5
5 F
Zarb's Magic
9
118
Sep 7, 2002
:57 1/5
5 1/2 F
Hey That's Great
5
113
Jun 27, 1992
1:02 3/5
6 F
Taylor's Special
5
118
Aug 22, 1986
1:08
6 1/2 F
Pentelicus
6
115
Jul 14, 1990
1:14 1/5
7 F
Tumiga
4
120
Jul 13, 1968
1:20 2/5
7 1/2 F
I'll Raise You One
3
112
Aug 3, 1987
1:28 4/5
1 M
Dr. Fager
4
134
Aug 24, 1968
1:32 1/5
1 M 70 Y
Geo. Groom
5
111
Oct 25, 1927
1:42 4/5
1 1/16 M
Kindly Manner
4
114
Aug 22, 1977
1:41 2/5
1 1/16 M
Mojave
3
109
Jun 30, 1981
1:41 2/5
A. 1 1/16 M
Ashleigh's Jet
4
120
Jun 14, 2001
1:44.10
1 1/8 M
Spectacular Bid
4
130
Jul 19, 1980
1:46 1/5
1 3/16 M
Tenpins
4
116
Sep 29, 2002
1:55.07
1 1/4 M
Private Thoughts
4
117
Aug 20, 1977
1:59 2/5
1 5/16 M
Rush Home
5
115
Aug 7, 1971
2:10
1 5/16 M
Evanescent
6
114
Jul 18, 1993
2:10
1 3/8 M
Playdale
3
98
Jul 19, 1932
2:15 2/5
1 1/2 M
El Misterio
5
112
Sep 5, 1960
2:28 1/5
1 5/8 M
Fool's Robbery
4
111
Jul 5, 1973
2:45 3/5
1 3/4 M
Deux-Moulins
8
119
Jul 14, 1955
2:59 2/5
2 M
Swede Of Norfolk
6
127
Aug 15, 1970
3:26 2/5
2 1/4 M
Djem
4
119
Jul 30, 1953
4:05 3/5
Turf Course
DIST
HORSE
AGE
WGT
DATE
REC
5 F
Distinctive Mr. B
5
122
Sep 15, 2001
:56.36
5 1/2 F
Chief Sun Dance
4
115
Jul 6, 1970
1:02 3/5
1 M
Gee Can He Dance
6
113
Sep 4, 1995
1:34.50
1 M 70 Y
Pass The Brandy
7
114
Jul 25, 1970
1:38 4/5
1 1/16 M
Zeeruler
4
113
Sep 7, 1992
1:41
1 1/8 M
Mr. Leader
4
116
Jul 4, 1970
1:47 2/5
1 1/8 M
Jinski's World
3
111
Jul 6, 1991
1:47 2/5
1 1/8 M
World Class Splash
3
113
Jul 11, 1992
1:47 2/5
1 3/16 M
Reluctant Guest
4
123
Sep 1, 1990
1:53 1/5
1 1/4 M
Awad
5
126
Aug 27, 1995
1:58.69
1 1/2 M
Cetewayo
8
118
Jul 6, 2002
2:27.50
1 5/8 M
Coincident
4
117
Jul 26, 1951
2:45
1 3/4 M
Pennsburg
5
110
Jul 5, 1941
3:02 3/5
2 M
Penaway
5
118
Jul 24, 1953
3:25 2/5
2 1/16 M
Deux-Moulins
8
124
Jul 28, 1955
3:30 4/5
2 1/8 M
English Harry
6
108
Jul 30, 1941
3:45
History of Arlington Park Race Track
Arlington Park Race Track opened to an enthusiastic crowd of about 20,000 on October 13, 1927. In the first race run, jockey Joe Bollero guided Luxembourg to victory.
In 1933, the track installed the first all-electric totalisator.
In 1934, Arlington Park Race Track ran turf races for the first time in the state’s history.
In 1936, the track installed Chicago's first photo-finish camera, called the Eye in the Sky.
In 1940, the track installed the first electric starting gate in Chicago racing.
In 1967, Arlington Park Race Track installed the largest closed-circuit color TV in all of sports.
In 1971, Arlington hosted the Pontiac Grand Prix - the first commercially sponsored $100,000 race in the U.S. That same year, Arlington introduced Trifecta wagering in Chicago.
In 1981, Arlington hosted the first ever million dollar race for thoroughbreds - the Arlington Million. In that race, jockey Bill Shoemaker led John Henry to a come-from-behind win over longshot The Bart.
In 1985, a fire devastated the original grandstand.
In June 1989, Arlington changed its name to Arlington International Racecourse. Their new casino and amusement park ushered in a new concept in thoroughbred racing by offering entertainment for the entire family.
In 1996, Arlington hosted the North and South American simulcasts of the first Dubai World Cup, the world's first $4 million race.
In 2000, Arlington merged with Churchill Downs Inc. and its name reverted back to Arlington Park Race Track.
