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Arlington’s Lost Racing Golden Age | Chicago News
In 1986, Arlington Park hosted the legendary International Festival of Racing—a dazzling 13-day spectacle featuring six Grade One races and over $5 million in prize money, setting a gold standard for Illinois horse racing. Born from resilience after a devastating fire, the event brought global stars to Chicago, with Hall of Fame trainers and jockeys battling for glory amid roaring crowds and jaw-dropping upsets like a 35-1 shot winning the Arlington Classic. Estrapade’s record-breaking victory in the Arlington Million—only mare ever to win it, by five lengths—sealed its place in history. But…
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