Washington Park Race Track

Geobox|Race Track
name = Washington Park Race Track
native_name =
other_name = Washington Track
category =

image_size =
image_caption = Washington Park Race Track, c. 1903.
official_name =
etymology =
nickname =

flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
country = United States
state = Illinois
region_type = County
region = Cook
district_type = Township
district = Unknown
city = Chicago
location = 61st Street and Cottage Grove
location_type = Address
elevation_imperial = 594
elevation_imperial_note = cite web|url=Gnis3|1772672|title=USGS detail on Newtown|accessdate=2007-10-21]
prominence_imperial =
lat_d = 41
lat_m = 46
lat_s = 55
lat_NS = N
long_d = 87
long_m = 36
long_s = 39
long_EW = W
length_imperial =
length_orientation = Oval
length_round = 3
width_imperial =
width_orientation =
height_imperial =
depth_imperial =
volume_imperial =
area_imperial =
number =
number_type = Front Stretch
number1 =
number1_type = Back Stretch
period = American Derby
period_type = Major Events
style = Thoroughbred
style_type = Race Type
material = Dirt
established_type = Broke Ground
established = 1884
established1_type = Opened
established1 = 1884
established2_type = Closed
established2 = 1977
owner = Washington Park Jockey Club
public =
visitation =
visitation_date =
access =
free = $150,000
free_type = Construction Cost

map_caption = Location of Washington Park Race Track within Illinois.
map_background =
map_locator = Illinois
map1 = Map of USA IL.svg
map1_caption = Location of Illinois in the United States
website =
footnotes =

Washington Park Race Track was a popular horse racing venue in the Chicago metropolitan area from 1884 until 1977. It had two locations during its existence. It was first situated in what is the current location of the Washington Park Subdivision of the Woodlawn community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. This is located immediately south of both the current Washington Park community area and Washington Park. The track was later relocated to Homewood, Illinois, which is also in Cook County.

The original track and its accompanying Jockey Club were social draws in the late 1800s, 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 American Derby, which ranked as one of horse racing's highest purses. The Jockey club, designed by Solon Spencer Beman, hosted a social gathering led by General Philip Sheridan who was an early leader of the track and club. The track was closed and reopened according to the contemporary state and local laws on gambling and eventually waned in popularity and social importance.

Over the years, numerous famous horses and jockeys appeared at the track. In the 19th century, notable horses of the time, such as Emperor of Norfolk and Domino raced. In the 20th century, some of the most notable Thoroughbreds to race at Washington Park included Triple Crown winners Citation and Whirlaway. Other notable horses included Native Dancer and Swaps, who each won legs of the Triple Crown. Jockey Eddie Arcaro won both the 1948 and 1953 American Derby races at the track. In addition to the American Derby, several other notable graded stakes races were run at the track such as the Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap and the Washington Park Handicap. In addition, notable match races were held at the track.

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." The track was part of the long tradition of constructing special facilities for sporting events and public assembly in the Chicago parks.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/333.html|author=Lupkin, Paula R.|title=Places of Assembly|work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|date=2005|accessdate=2007-11-25] At that time it was fashionable for the social elite to maintain close ties to equestrian sports. Some owned Thoroughbreds and thus were members of the Washington Park Jockey Club.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/735.html|author=Reiss, Steven A.|title=Leisure|accessdate=2007-10-18|publisher=City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division.|date=2003] The track's clubhouse, which was completed in 1896, was designed by Solon Spencer Beman, and C. B. McDonald built a short nine-hole club members' golf course in the infield of the track.cite web |url= http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/410060.html |title= Prairie Ave Gallery : Leisure |work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago |date=2005 |publisher= Chicago Historical Society. |accessdate=2007-10-18 ]

Major races

Each June, the track sponsored the American Derby, which had a purse ranked among the highest in the country. When Washington Park Race Track first organized the American Derby in 1883, General Philip Sheridan served as its first President. [cite book |title= Thoroughbred Racing & Breeding|last= Underwood|first=Tom R. (ed.) |year= 1945|publisher= Coward-McCann|location=New York |pages=p. 149] By 1893, the American Derby was the 2nd richest American race in 19th century. Both The American Derby and Opening Day (the first race of the season) [Mahoney, Olivia, "Douglas/Grand Boulevard", p. 21, Arcadia Publishing, 2001, ISBN 0-7385-1855-7] became important social calendar dates. Residents of elite late 19th century neighborhoods organized a number of related public activities outside the track grounds, including the annual Washington Park Race Track opening day parade.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1203.html|author=Duis, Perry R.|title=Street Life|work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|date=2005|accessdate=2007-11-25]

Horse racing was not the only draw of the track. In 1900, a race was staged at the track between a gasoline-powered automobile and an electrically-powered automobile. At the time, there were more electric cars in the country than gasoline powered ones. The race in Chicago was the first time a gasoline-powered car beat an electric-powered one in a race.

Decline and closure of the original track

The track ran into difficulties when Hempstead Washburne was elected Mayor of Chicago in 1892. In 1893, he began a gambling reform campaign, which included a goal of closing all race tracks in Chicago. His campaign eventually resulted in the 1894 closure of Washington Park Race Track, although the track reopened in 1898. It remained open until 1905, when the state of Illinois banned gambling and stopped all horse racing.cite web |author= Steven A. Riess |url= http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/601.html |title= Horse Racing |work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago |date=2005 |publisher= Chicago Historical Society|accessdate=2007-10-18] By that time, the prestige of the club had declined, independently of Washburne's reform movement, because more modern and spacious golf courses drew the members to other locations, and the residential dispersion of elite members from the community area made the club less important. However, the stables used by the track were not torn down and currently form a portion of the DuSable Museum of African-American History. cite web |author= |url= http://www.hydepark.org/parks/washington.htm |title= Washington Park: From Olmstead to Today |publisher= Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference |accessdate=2006-12-27 ]

New track

In 1926, a second Washington Park Race Track opened up in south suburban Homewood. cite web |author= Steven A. Riess |url= http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/601.html |title= Horse Racing |publisher= ChicagoHistory.org |accessdate=2006-12-27 ] The new Washington Park Race Track was located west of Halsted Street just outside of Homewood village bounds. The Illinois Central Railroad built a spur line directly between Chicago and the newly relocated track.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/598.html|author=Long, John H.|title=Homewood, IL|work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|date=2005|accessdate=2007-11-25] The relocated track continued to be a famous and popular attraction.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/405.html|author=McClellan, Larry A.|title=East Hazel Crest, IL|work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|date=2005|accessdate=2007-11-25] The inaugural meeting of organizers was July 3, 1926.cite book |author=Daily Racing Form | authorlink= Daily Racing Form |title=The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition|year=1960 |publisher=Triangle Publications |location=Chicago, Illinois|pages=p. 963 ] The new track was constructed amongst a construction boom of racetracks in the United States during the 1920's, which included fifteen new large racetracks constructed during the decade. Others constructed at this time were Arlington Park nearby in Chicago and Hialeah Park in Florida.cite book |author=Thoroughbred Times |title=The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac) |publisher=BowTie Press |location=Lexington, Kentucky |year= 2007|pages=p. 59 |isbn=1-931993-65-3 ]

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.cite book |author=Thoroughbred Times |title=The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac) |publisher=BowTie Press |location=Lexington, Kentucky |year=2007 |pages=p. 239-240 |isbn=1-931993-65-3 ] 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.

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.cite book |author=Thoroughbred Times |title=The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac) |publisher=BowTie Press |location=Lexington, Kentucky |year= 2007|pages= 461-462|isbn=1-931993-65-3 ]

The new track hosted a number of special races between famous horses of the day. On August 29, 1945 a match race between Busher and Durazna was held at the racetrack. The distance was one mile, with a purse of $25,000.00. Busher won by almost two lengths, after the lead changed several times during the race.cite book |title=The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America |last= Robertson|first=William H. P. |year=1964 |publisher= Bonanza Books|location=New York |pages=366 ] On August 31, 1955, Washington Park hosted a match race between Nashua and Swaps with a distance of a mile and a quarter. The purse was $100,000.00. Nashua won by several lengths, having led the entire race. The race was well attended, and attracted reporters from across the country. Nashua went on to be named Horse of the Year for 1955.cite book |author=Daily Racing Form|authorlink=Daily Racing Form |title=The American Racing Manual 1956 Edition|year=1956 |publisher=Triangle Publications |location=Chicago, Illinois|pages=p. 17 ] cite book |author=Daily Racing Form| authorlink= Daily Racing Form |title=The American Racing Manual 1956 Edition|year=1956 |publisher=Triangle Publications |location=Chicago, Illinois|pages=p. 50-53 ]

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 Illinois Governor Otto Kerner to gain premium racing dates.

Washington Park Race Track's grandstand burned on the night of February 5, 1977,cite book |author=Daily Racing Form| authorlink= Daily Racing Form |title=The American Racing Manual 1978 Edition|year=1978 |publisher=Triangle Publications |location=Chicago, Illinois|pages=p. 604 ] putting the track out of business. The property was sold and redeveloped in 1992 for commercial and residential use.

Horses who raced at Washington Park

Other stakes races run at the racetrack

Notes

References

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External links

* [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/Community_Areas_WASHINGTON_PARK.pdf Official City of Chicago Washington Park Neighborhood Map]
* [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/Community_Areas_WOODLAWN.pdf Official City of Chicago Woodlawn Neighborhood Map]

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