Washington Park Race Track
 Washington Park Race Track, Derby Day 1903. | |
| Location | 61st Street and Cottage Grove, Cook County, Illinois[1] |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°46′55″N 87°36′39″W / 41.78194°N 87.61083°W |
| Owned by | Washington Park Jockey Club |
| Date opened | 1884 |
| Date closed | 1977 |
Washington Park Race Track was a popular
The original track and its accompanying Jockey Club were social draws in the late 19th century, but modern developments and changes in the law led to the decline of both. In its prime, the track was an especially important social gathering place on opening day and the day of the
Over the years, numerous famous horses and
Original track
In 1883, a group of about 500 Chicagoans, led by General Philip Sheridan, banded together to create the Washington Park Jockey Club. Selecting a location at 61st and Cottage Grove, the Club opened and operated the Washington Park Race Track, valued at $150,000, the following year, claiming it to be "the Midwest's preeminent track."
Major races
Each June, the track sponsored the
Horse racing was not the only draw of the track. In 1900, a race was staged at the track between a
Decline and closure of the original track
The track ran into difficulties when
New track
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In 1926, a second Washington Park Race Track opened up in south suburban Homewood.[2] The new Washington Park Race Track was located west of Halsted Street just outside Homewood village bounds. The Illinois Central Railroad built a spur line from its mainline at Harvey to the newly relocated race track.[11] The relocated track continued to be a famous and popular attraction.[12] The inaugural meeting of organizers was July 3, 1926.[13] The new track was developed during a construction boom of racetracks in the United States during the 1920s, which included fifteen new large racetracks built during the decade. Others constructed at this time were Arlington Park nearby in Chicago and Hialeah Park in Florida.[14]
Benjamin F. Lindheimer purchased Washington Park Race Track in 1935 and owned it until his death in 1960.[15] Long involved with the business, adopted daughter Marjorie Lindheimer Everett then took over management of the racetracks.[16]
The American Derby was also reborn at the new track, and was run at Washington through 1957, when it was moved to Arlington Park, in northwest suburban Arlington Heights.[17] However, racing venues had previously shifted between Chicago-area tracks. For example, in 1943, Arlington Park shifted its major races to Washington Park as a result of curtailed racing due to World War II.[2]
Another significant race run at the new track was the Grade 2 stakes Washington Park Handicap for three-year-olds and up. It was first held at Washington Park in 1926, and continued to be held there until 1958, when it was moved to Arlington Park, where it continues to be held to the present day and commemorates the Washington Park racetrack.[18]
The new track hosted a number of special races between famous horses of the day. On August 29, 1945 a match race between
However, in spite of popular events, the track was not without scandals and allegations of misdeeds. For example, in 1970, Marge Lindheimer Everett, manager of both Arlington and Washington Park, confessed to having bribed
Washington Park Race Track's grandstand burned on the night of February 5, 1977,[22] putting the track out of business. The property was sold and redeveloped in 1992 for commercial and residential use.[11] A plaque was dedicated in 2012 along Halsted Street to commemorate the track.
Horses who raced at Washington Park
- Emperor of Norfolk won the 1888 American Derby[23]
- Domino won the 1893 Hyde Park Stakes[24]
- Whirlaway won the 1941 American Derby[23]
- Citation won the 1948 American Derby in the same year he won the Triple Crown, with Eddie Arcaro up[25][23]
- Coaltown won the 1949 Whirlaway Stakes, setting a new world mile mark while doing so[26]
- Native Dancer won the 1953 American Derby, with Eddie Arcaro up[23]
- Swaps won the 1956 Washington Park Handicap[27] and the 1955 American Derby, where he set the record for that race that still stood in 2006.[17]
- T. V. Lark won the American Derby and Washington Park Handicap in 1961[28]
Other stakes races run at the racetrack
- Sheridan Stakes began in 1884, ran at the old and new racetracks[29]
- Washington Park Handicap began 1926, moved to Arlington Park in 1958[30]
- Arlington Futurity Stakes to create the Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes.[32] It is now the Arlington-Washington Futurity.[33]
- Arlington Handicap ran at Washington Park in 1943, 1944 and 1945[36]
- Misty Isle Handicap from inception in 1946 through 1958 then transferred to Arlington Park[37]
- Whirlaway Handicap run 1946 through 1952.[38][39]
| Preceding station | Illinois Central Railroad | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Electric Suburban Washington Park Branch
|
Harvey Terminus
| ||
Notes
- ^ "USGS detail on Newtown". Retrieved October 21, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g Steven A. Riess (2005). "Horse Racing". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
- ^ Lupkin, Paula R. (2005). "Places of Assembly". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ Reiss, Steven A. (2003). "Leisure". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
- ^ a b "Prairie Ave Gallery : Leisure". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
- ^ Underwood, Tom R., ed. (1945). Thoroughbred Racing & Breeding. New York: Coward-McCann. p. 149.
- ISBN 0-7385-1855-7
- ^ Duis, Perry R. (2005). "Street Life". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ Zumbach, Lauren (October 9, 2019). "Flashback: Runners in Chicago's first marathon — in 1905 — dodged traffic and waited for a passing train and an open drawbridge". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Washington Park: From Olmstead to Today". Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. Retrieved December 27, 2006.
- ^ a b Long, John H. (2005). "Homewood, IL". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ McClellan, Larry A. (2005). "East Hazel Crest, IL". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 963.
- ISBN 978-1-931993-65-4.
- ^ New York Times
- ^ Sports Illustrated, June 27, 1960
- ^ ISBN 978-1-931993-65-4.
- ISBN 978-1-931993-65-4.
- ^ Robertson, William H. P. (1964). The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America. New York: Bonanza Books. p. 366.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1956). The American Racing Manual 1956 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 17.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1956). The American Racing Manual 1956 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. 50–53.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1978). The American Racing Manual 1978 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 604.
- ^ a b c d Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. 987–988.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 1082.
- ISBN 0-668-02824-6.
- ISBN 0-668-02824-6.
- ISBN 0-668-02824-6.
- ISBN 0-668-02824-6.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 1173.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 1199.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 1198.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1987). The American Racing Manual 1987 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 742.
- ISBN 978-1-933958-38-5.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. 1177–1178.
- ISBN 978-1-931993-65-4.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1978). The American Racing Manual 1978 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. 682–683.
- ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. p. 1148.
- ^ Daily Racing Form May 18, 1946 article titled "Whirlaway Important New Chicago Stake" Retrieved October 8, 2018
- ^ New York Times August 17, 1952 article titled "Crafty Admiral 3-Length Victor" Retrieved October 8, 2018
References
- Hogan, Clio D. Index to Stakes Winners 1865–1967. Solvang, California: Flag Is Up Farms.
- Montgomery, E. S. (1980). The Thoroughbred (Fourth Printing ed.). New York: Arco Publishing. ISBN 0-668-02824-6.
- Robertson, William H. P. (1964). The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America. New York: Bonanza Books.
- Thoroughbred Times (2007). The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac). Lexington, Kentucky: BowTie Press. ISBN 978-1-931993-65-4.
- Daily Racing Form (1956). The American Racing Manual 1956 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications.
- Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications.
- Daily Racing Form (1978). The American Racing Manual 1978 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications.
- Underwood, Tom R., ed. (1945). Thoroughbred Racing & Breeding. New York: Coward-McCann.
External links
- Official City of Chicago Washington Park Neighborhood Map
- Official City of Chicago Woodlawn Neighborhood Map[permanent dead link]
- The first Washington Park Race Track in Chicago
