The Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Horse Racing Scene

The end of horse racing in the Chicago area came in July when Hawthorne Race Course closed. This marked a significant loss, coming 40 years after Arlington Park’s noteworthy 1986 meeting. This event, the International Festival of Racing, ran from August 19 to September 1 in a lively fair setting. It featured 13 graded races, including six Grade I races, four Grade II races, and three Grade III races. The festival also included four major races for Illinois-breds.

Historical Context

The International Festival of Racing emerged from an earlier event known as “the Miracle Million.” This took place a month after a destructive fire at Arlington Park on July 31, 1985. Despite the damage, the Million race went ahead less than five weeks later. This success inspired major owner Dick Duchossois to hold a 13-day mini-festival in 1986.

Major Achievements

During the 1986 event, attendance averaged 17,819 visitors daily, with average daily betting reaching $2,383,052 within the region. Notably, the festival attracted top trainers and jockeys, from North America and Europe. Remarkably, the mare Estrapade dominated the Arlington Million, setting a new record with her five-length win.

Other key participants included Top Corsage, who secured victories on both grass and dirt settings with different jockeys. The festival’s opening day saw a major upset when Sumptuous, at 35-1 odds, won, paying $73.20.

Legacy and Decline

The festival’s impact led Duchossois to seek a 91-day meeting in 1987, which was granted. However, plans then shifted towards rebuilding Arlington Park after applying for new racing dates in Old Mill Creek. The rebuilt track opened in 1989, celebrated as a masterpiece by experts like Architectural Digest.

Unfortunately, economic and competitive challenges arose. Duchossois closed Arlington in 1998 for leverage on tax breaks, reopening in 2000. However, after merging with Churchill Downs, Inc., his role reduced. CDI later sold Arlington, which was purchased by the Chicago Bears, preventing any future horse racing there.

Duchossois’ Contribution

Bob Kieckhofer, from The Blood-Horse, emphasized the importance of Duchossois’ work in international racing. Despite its decline, the 1986 festival was a notable achievement in Illinois’s horse racing history.

Neil Milbert, a freelance writer, extensively covered horse racing for the Chicago Tribune over his 40-year career.