About Arlington Park

The Concours venue, Arlington Park, is an international thoroughbred racing venue just to the southeast of Barrington. Arlington Park is world-renowned as one of racing’s most magnificent settings, featuring a beautiful infield, grandstand, and grounds. The park has made a special exception to enable us showcase the Concours automobiles on the turf course, and we will be using the very elegant Paddock area for our awards ceremony (shown at right).

Arlington Park hosted its inaugural meet in 1927 and re-opened its doors in 1989 after a devastating fire engulfed the clubhouse four years earlier. Throughout its more than 80 years of existence, Arlington Park has prided itself on playing host to many of the sport’s greatest moments and being a leader in Thoroughbred racing.

As home to the world’s first million-dollar race, the Arlington Million will be held for the 26th time on Saturday, Aug. 9. Arlington features a 1 1/8-mile Polytrack synthetic racing surface, the first of its kind in the Midwest; a one-mile turf course and a five-furlong training track. Arlington experienced a historic first in 2002 as the suburban Chicago track hosted its first-ever Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

The 2009 racing season kicks off on Friday, May 1 and continues through Sunday, Sept. 27. In addition to top-notch horse racing, Arlington Park’s season is highlighted by events for young and old alike. Each Friday during the season, Arlington hosts the Miller Lite Party in the Park, featuring live music by some of the areas most popular bands. Every Sunday has Family Day activities including pony rides, a petting zoo and face painters plus the Junior Jockey Club, which takes children 12 and under behind the scenes to learn more about Thoroughbreds.

Arlington Park has a long-standing commitment to community involvement, believing it has always been important to be a good neighbor.