Homewood in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Washington Park Racetrack
Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, August 7, 2015
1. Washington Park Racetrack Marker
Opening on July 3, 1926, with the American Derby and a $100,000 purse, Washington Park Racetrack, built by Washington Park Corporation and Illinois Jockey Club, became a home for the nation's finest thoroughbreds. Colonel Matt Winn and the American Turf Association bought the track in 1929. Ben Lindheimer and Associates acquired the track in 1935. A record crowd of 57,036 turned out on Labor Day 1946 to see 'Armed' break the track record of a mile and a quarter.
Racing here were prominent stables including Calumet and Dixiana with great horses Sun Beau, Whirlaway, Citation, and Round Table. Willie Shoemaker and Bill Hardtack battled for national jockey honors in the early 1950s. Nashua, jockeyed by Eddie Arcaro, beat Swaps, jockeyed by Willie Shoemaker, by 6 1/2 lengths in the "Greatest Match Race in American Thoroughbred History" on August 31, 1955. A.C. Nielsen estimated that the millions of viewers of this race made television-sporting history.
Marje Lindheimer Everett rebuilt, enclosed the plant in glass in 1962, and introduced harness racing. Other owners included Gulf & Western industries. Lastly, Madison Square Garden Corporation introduced nationally recognized entertainers in a concert venue. Illinois' first Sunday pari-mutuel racing in 1976 and first winter thoroughbred racing in 1977 were granted to
this page online
The racetrack's grandstand and clubhouse burned in a colossal fire on February 5, 1977, bringing an end to the track's rich history.
Erected 2012 by Village of Homewood Heritage Committee and the Illinois State Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1862.
Location. 41° 34.064′ N, 87° 38.501′ W. Marker is in Homewood, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Presidents Drive, on the right when traveling east on Maple Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17700 Presidents Dr, Homewood IL 60430, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dixie Highway connected Chicago to Miami in the early days of automobile travel (approx. 1.3 miles away); Dixie Highway (approx. 1.3 miles away); Camp Thornton #2605 and the Civil Conservation Corps (approx. 2.4 miles away); Markham Prairie (approx. 3.6 miles away); Markham Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away); Site of Absolem Wells Cabin
Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, August 7, 2015
2. Washington Park Racetrack Marker
Additional keywords. Horse Racing
Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, August 7, 2015
3. Washington Park Racetrack Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2015, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,715 times since then and 160 times this year. Last updated on October 24, 2025, by Angela Smith of Olympia Fields, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 12, 2015, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
