All Horse Racing

Arlington Park History

The track officially opened in 1927. Arlington was the first track to install a public-address system. In 1933 it added the first electric totalisator. In 1936 it added a photo finish camera. It introduced the first electric starting gate in 1940, and of trifecta wagering in 1971.

Arlington Park hosted the first million-dollar race Arlington Million in 1981 and the result of that race is immortalized in bronze at the top of paddock at Arlington. It was on July 31, 1985, when the grandstand and clubhouse were completely gutted down and the race had to move to the Hawthorne Race Course. In 2000, Churchill Downs incorporated the track, which was the first step of Arlington Park to host the 2002 Breeders Cup World Championships.

Harry D. Curly Brown, a California based business man founded Arlington Park. He later served as the president of Oriental Park Racetrack in Havana, Cuba. Officially the track opened to twenty thousand spectators in 1927. The first race ever ran there saw the victory of Jockey Joe Bollero, who later became a successful trainer.

More About Arlington Park

1 Mile turf oval, Junior Jockey Club, Senior Days and Senior Spires, Million Room, Paddock Pub, Silk s Lounge, The Park, Cobey s Food Court, Mr. D s, Hearth Grill