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==New track==
==New track==
[[Image:Washpark-history 07.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Grandstands at original track]]
[[Image:Washpark-history 07.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Grandstands at original track, c. 1900]]
In 1926, after oral betting was declared legal in Illinois, a second Washington Park Race Track opened up in south suburban [[Homewood, Illinois|Homewood]].<ref name="EOC"> {{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 }}</ref> The inaugural meeting started [[July 3]] [[1926]].<ref name=1960ARM963>{{cite book |author=Daily Racing Form |title=The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition|year=1960 |publisher=Triangle Publications |location=Chicago, Illinois|pages=p. 963 }}</ref> The new track was constructed amongst a construction boom of racetracks in the United States during the 1920's, as there were fifteen new large racetracks constructed during the decade. Others constructed at this time were [[Arlington Park]] nearby in Chicago and [[Hialeah Park Race Track|Hialeah Park]] in [[Florida]].<ref name=TTAlmanac59>{{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 }}</ref> Although the American Derby was also reborn at the new track, it only was run at Washington through 1957.<ref name=TTAlmanac239>{{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 }}</ref> It was then moved to Arlington Park, in northwest suburban [[Arlington Heights, Illinois|Arlington Heights]]. The new Washington Park Race Track was located west of Halsted Street just outside of Homewood village bounds. [[Illinois Central Railroad]] built a spur line directly between Chicago and the newly-relocated Washington Park Race Track.<ref name="EOC389">{{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}}</ref>
In 1926, after oral betting was declared legal in Illinois, a second Washington Park Race Track opened up in south suburban [[Homewood, Illinois|Homewood]].<ref name="EOC"> {{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 }}</ref> The inaugural meeting started [[July 3]] [[1926]].<ref name=1960ARM963>{{cite book |author=Daily Racing Form |title=The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition|year=1960 |publisher=Triangle Publications |location=Chicago, Illinois|pages=p. 963 }}</ref> The new track was constructed amongst a construction boom of racetracks in the United States during the 1920's, as there were fifteen new large racetracks constructed during the decade. Others constructed at this time were [[Arlington Park]] nearby in Chicago and [[Hialeah Park Race Track|Hialeah Park]] in [[Florida]].<ref name=TTAlmanac59>{{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 }}</ref> Although the American Derby was also reborn at the new track, it only was run at Washington through 1957.<ref name=TTAlmanac239>{{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 }}</ref> It was then moved to Arlington Park, in northwest suburban [[Arlington Heights, Illinois|Arlington Heights]]. The new Washington Park Race Track was located west of Halsted Street just outside of Homewood village bounds. [[Illinois Central Railroad]] built a spur line directly between Chicago and the newly-relocated Washington Park Race Track.<ref name="EOC389">{{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}}</ref>
The relocated track continued to be a famous and popular attraction.<ref name="EOC253">{{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}}</ref>
The relocated track continued to be a famous and popular attraction.<ref name="EOC253">{{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}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:32, 17 January 2008


See also: Washington Park, Chicago

Template:Geobox

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. It was later relocated in 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.

Original track

In 1883, a group of about 500 Chicagoans, led by General Philip Sheridan, banded together to create the Washington Park Jockey Club. They opened Washington Park Race Track, the Midwest’s preeminent track,[1] the following year at 61st and Cottage Grove. The track is exemplary of the long history of construction of special facilities for sporting events and public assembly in the Chicago parks.[2] The club operated the $150,000 track. 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 center of the track.[3]

Each June, the track sponsored the American Derby, which had a purse which ranked among the highest in the country. Both Opening Day and the American Derby, the first race of the season,[4] became important social calendar dates at Washington Park Race Track. Residents of elite late 19th century neighborhoods utilized the streets for symbolic activities including the annual Washington Park Race Track opening day parade.[5] When Washington Park Race Track organized the American Derby in 1883, General Philip Sheridan served as its first President.[6] 1893’s American Derby was the 2nd richest American race in 19th Century.[1] At that time it was fashionable for the social elite to maintain close ties to equestrian sports. Some owned thoroughbreds and were members of the Washington Park Jockey Club.[7]

Hempstead Washburne was elected Mayor of Chicago in 1892. In 1893, he began a reform campaign, which included closing all tracks in Chicago. His campaign eventually resulted in the 1894 closure of Washington Park Race Track,[1] although the track reopened in 1898. It remained open until 1905, when the state of Illinois banned gambling and stopped all racing.[1] By that time, the prestige of the club had declined because more modern and spacious golf courses drew the members and the residential dispersion of elite members made the club less important.[3] The stables used by the track were not torn down and currently form a portion of the DuSable Museum of African-American History.[8]

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.

New track

Grandstands at original track, c. 1900

In 1926, after oral betting was declared legal in Illinois, a second Washington Park Race Track opened up in south suburban Homewood.[1] The inaugural meeting started July 3 1926.[9] The new track was constructed amongst a construction boom of racetracks in the United States during the 1920's, as there were fifteen new large racetracks constructed during the decade. Others constructed at this time were Arlington Park nearby in Chicago and Hialeah Park in Florida.[10] Although the American Derby was also reborn at the new track, it only was run at Washington through 1957.[11] It was then moved to Arlington Park, in northwest suburban Arlington Heights. The new Washington Park Race Track was located west of Halsted Street just outside of Homewood village bounds. Illinois Central Railroad built a spur line directly between Chicago and the newly-relocated Washington Park Race Track.[12] The relocated track continued to be a famous and popular attraction.[13]

In 1943, Arlington Park race track shifted its major races to the new Washington Park Race Track as a result of curtailed racing due to World War II.[1] Washington Park listed its official Thoroughbred Racing Associations Jockey club address as 141 West Jackson at the time.[14] In the 1940s, Washington Park management used seven placing and patrol judges at various locations of the track and referred to them all as stewards, although stewards usually have a different role as the presiding officer of the race meetings. These judges met immediately after the races with equal voice to determine the first four finishers.[15]

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. 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 over a length.[16]

In 1970, Marge Lindheimer Everett, Arlington and Washington Park manager, confessed to having bribed Illinois Governor Otto Kerner to gain premium racing dates.[1] Washington Park Race Track's grandstand burned in 1977, putting the track out of business. The property was sold and redeveloped in 1992 for commercial and residential use.[12]

The Grade 2 stakes Washington Park Handicap for three-year olds and up held at Arlington Park commemorates the racetrack. It was first held at Washington Park in 1926, and continued to be held there until 1958, when it was moved to Arlington Park.[17]

Horses who raced at Washington Park

Other stakes races run at the racetrack

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Steven A. Riess (2005). "Horse Racing". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-10-18. Cite error: The named reference "EOC" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Lupkin, Paula R. (2005). "Places of Assembly". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  3. ^ a b "Prairie Ave Gallery : Leisure". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. 2005. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  4. ^ Mahoney, Olivia, Douglas/Grand Boulevard, p. 21, Arcadia Publishing, 2001, ISBN 0-7385-1855-7
  5. ^ Duis, Perry R. (2005). "Street Life". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  6. ^ Underwood, p. 149.
  7. ^ Reiss, Steven A. (2003). "Leisure". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  8. ^ "Washington Park: From Olmstead to Today". Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
  9. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 963. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Thoroughbred Times (2007). The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac). Lexington, Kentucky: BowTie Press. pp. p. 59. ISBN 1-931993-65-3. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  11. ^ a b Thoroughbred Times (2007). The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac). Lexington, Kentucky: BowTie Press. pp. p. 239-240. ISBN 1-931993-65-3. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help) Cite error: The named reference "TTAlmanac239" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Long, John H. (2005). "Homewood, IL". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  13. ^ McClellan, Larry A. (2005). "East Hazel Crest, IL". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  14. ^ Underwood, p. 153.
  15. ^ Underwood, p. 157.
  16. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1220. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  17. ^ Thoroughbred Times (2007). The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac). Lexington, Kentucky: BowTie Press. pp. 461–462. ISBN 1-931993-65-3.
  18. ^ Montgomery The Thoroughbred p. 201
  19. ^ a b c d Daily Racing Form. The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 987-988. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  20. ^ Montgomery The Thoroughbred p. 206
  21. ^ Montgomery The Thoroughbred p. 217
  22. ^ Montgomery The Thoroughbred p. 241
  23. ^ Montgomery The Thoroughbred p. 227
  24. ^ a b Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1082. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  25. ^ a b c d Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1198. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  26. ^ a b Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1198-1199. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  27. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 997. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  28. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1003-1004. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  29. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1029. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  30. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1030-1031. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  31. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1070-1071. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  32. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1148. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  33. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1173. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  34. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1177-1178. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  35. ^ Thoroughbred Times (2007). The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac). Lexington, Kentucky: BowTie Press. pp. p. 440-441. ISBN 1-931993-65-3. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  36. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1192. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  37. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1207. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  38. ^ a b c d e f Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1209. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  39. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1210. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  40. ^ a b c d Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1211. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  41. ^ a b Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1212. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  42. ^ a b c Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1213. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  43. ^ Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1214. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  44. ^ a b Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications. pp. p. 1216. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

References

  • Montgomery, E. S. (1980) The Thoroughbred Fourth Printing New York: Arco Publishing ISBN 0-668-02824-6
  • Thoroughbred Times (2007). The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac : 2006 (Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac). Lexington, Kentucky: BowTie Press. ISBN 1-931993-65-3.
  • Daily Racing Form (1960). The American Racing Manual 1960 Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Triangle Publications.
  • Underwood, Tom R. (ed.), Thoroughbred Racing & Breeding, Coward-McCann, Inc., 1945

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Washington_Park_Race_Track&oldid=185014102"