People have raced horses since they first tamed them. This goes back to when nomads did so in Central Asia. Since then, it has occurred in various settings and by many people.
Horse racing began in the 12th century. When they returned from the Crusades, English knights brought Arab horses. People created the Thoroughbred horse breed by breeding Arab stallions with English mares. This mix resulted in a breed with endurance and speed. Soon, nobles began to bet on races with Thoroughbred horses. This tradition continues today on platforms like 20Bet.
The Evolution of Horse Racing
Since 1660, Newmarket has been the site of horse racing events, which started during the rule of King Charles II. Horse racing improved when Queen Anne was in power (1702 to 1714). It advanced to include several horses. Spectators bet on them. And so, the “Sport of Kings” became a formal discipline. These racecourses were set up. Established in 1750, the Jockey Club was formed to regulate the sport of horse racing. The Jockey Club developed rules and named races. They also set up the General Stud Book. It records the pedigree of all racing Thoroughbreds.
The United States’ inaugural racetrack opened in 1665, while the American Stud Book came into being in 1868. By 1894, the American Jockey Club was established. In the early 1900s, bookmaking was banned. But in 1908, pari-mutuel betting saved horse racing. Ever since, horse racing in America has flourished and advanced.
Home of Innovation in Horse Racing
Arlington Park Race Track is an unforgettable venue for thoroughbred horse racing. The gardens and facilities are clean and lush. They greet you at this elegant racecourse. It has a magnificent six-story grandstand and sweeping tracks. It’s been a top venue for horse racing in Illinois since 1927. It’s been known for its innovations from the start.
1933, Arlington made horse racing history by installing the first all-electric totalisator. The system cut the time between races and added credibility to betting information by showing the amount bet on each horse in a race. Arlington hosted the inaugural turf races in the subsequent year, representing a first in Illinois history. But innovations didn’t stop there.
Milestones in Arlington Racecourse History
1936, Arlington installed Chicago’s first photo-finish camera, the Eye in the Sky. By 1940, the racecourse had its first electric starting gate. As the sport grew, the club installed a closed-circuit TV system in 1967, a first for any sport. Trifecta betting began in 1971. In 1981, Arlington hosted the world’s first million-dollar race, The Arlington Million.
Richard Duchossois led an Illinois group that bought the racecourse to change it. In 1985, a fire gutted the club, but the meeting continued at Hawthorne Racetrack. The club was determined. They held the fifth Arlington Million using temporary bleachers. It earned the “Miracle Million” an Eclipse Award—the first ever given to a racetrack.
Final Thoughts
Richard Duchossois later bought out his partners. He reopened Arlington on June 28, 1989, as Arlington International Racecourse. This introduced a new concept in thoroughbred racing focused on family entertainment. The racecourse is state-of-the-art. It hosted the first Dubai World Cup in 1996, worth $4 million. The racecourse hosted its simulcast for North and South America.
After a two-year closure, Arlington reopened in 2000. In September, Arlington Park merged with Churchill Downs Incorporated. Ten years later, Arlington made history again. The Arlington worlds was the site of the inaugural million-dollar race, setting a historic milestone in horse racing.