Images: #TBT Gallery looks back at Arlington Park
Arlington Park is 90 years old this year. It has changed names several times in those nine decades and continued to host thoroughbred horse racing during the Great Depression and World War II.
In 1981 the world's first million-dollar race was held there and a bronze statue stands near the paddock to immortalize the win of legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker riding John Henry to a come-from-behind victory.
Just four years later, the grandstand completely burned to the ground. The community rallied together and built bleachers and erected tents and 35,000 people watched the "Miracle Million" that year.
The current six-story grandstand was completed and officially opened in 1989.
A field of 10 horses charges from the starting gate at the 11th Arlington Million in Sept., 1991 at Arlington Park.
Daily Herald file photo
Bugler Joe Kelly works at Arlington Park in 1984.
Daily Herald file photo
Bleachers are set up for the running of the "Miracle Million" on August 25, 1985 at Arlington Park after the fire in July.
Daily Herald File Photo
Chairman Dick Duchossois pounds the ceremonial golden spike to commemorate the new guardrail at Arlington Park in May of 1989. The grandstand was rebuilt and opened that June after a devastating fire four years earlier.
Daily Herald file photo
Conrad Enrique, Clerk of Scales, left, checks the weight of a jockey following a race, at Arlington Park in June of 1992.
Daily Herald file photo
Darin Holstein, assistant trainer at the Bill Cesare barn, walks a pony at Arlington Park in May, 1992.
Daily Herald file photo
Makeshift buildings are painted for the "Miracle Million" at Arlington Park in August of 1985.
Daily Herald File Photo
Horses round the track during the running of the "Miracle Million" at Arlington Park on August 25,1985. Tents and bleachers replaced the old grandstand after a fire in July.
Daily Herald File Photo
With tents and bleachers as the only structures, 35,000 horse racing fans attended the "Miracle Million" at Arlington Park just 25 days after a fire burned the facility to the ground.
Daily Herald File Photo
Starter Jimmy Kinnard at Arlington Park in August, 1992.
Daily Herald file photo
Starter Jimmy Kinnard at Arlington Park in August, 1991.
Daily Herald file photo
A security officer, Marcus Griffin, spends down time with Housebuster at Arlington Park in June, 1990.
Daily Herald file photo
A pony and rider walk around the paddock on the day before opening day at Arlington Park in 1992.
Daily Herald file photo
Mike Alfieri manually triggers the cameras for a photo finish at Arlington Park in June, 1992. He used three different cameras, with different focal length lenses, to capture horses as they cross the finish line.
Daily Herald file photo
The newly-rebuilt grandstand of Arlington Park in 1989.
Daily Herald file photo
A huge crowd of 35,000 fills every corner of Arlington Park grounds at the 1985 "Miracle Million." All the buildings were temporary, having been built in about one month after a fire destroyed the grandstand.
Daily Herald file photo
A horse works out on a practice track as construction workers create dust on Illinois Rte. 53 in the foreground and Arlington Park grandstand waits for action in the background in 1991.
Daily Herald file photo
Spectators are spread out on blankets for the Arlington Million race in 1992 at Arlington Park.
Daily Herald file photo
Legendary jockey Pat Day won the first two races on June 30, 1989 at Arlington Park.
Daily Herald file photo
Legendary racehorse John Henry wins the first Budweiser Million in 1981 at Arlington Park.
Daily Herald file photo
Belgian work horses smooth the dirt surface of Arlington Park in a photo labeled 1977.
Daily Herald file photo
This photo shows the start of a race in 1989 at Arlington Park.
Daily Herald file photo
Dear Doctor wins the Arlington Million in 1992 at Arlington Park.
Daily Herald file photo
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