Located in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Arlington Park has been a driving force behind the popularity of horse racing in the Chicago region since the 1830s.

The track boasts a one and one-eighth mile dirt oval surrounding a one mile turf oval and is capable of seating up to 50,000 people. In 2007, however, the park replaced its dirt course with a synthetic track, which has caused much controversy.

Jockeys are now frightened of the Polytrack synthetic surface after two of their brethren wound up paralyzed after falling during races in the summer of 2009. Since then, there has been tantamounting

The jockeys say falling on the Polytrack is like "hitting cement." Unlike dirt, they contend, there is no "give" to the artificial surface. One compared it to the way a yard dart sticks.

But Arlington Park President Roy Arnold rejects those claims as "anecdotal gossip." He says there are usually a combination of factors involved in an accident, and that one is required to step back and identify all the risk factors. 

Since its installment it has been a topic of discussion and controversy in the horse racing world.

The history of Arlington Park spans more than 80 years of struggles and successes. Described as "the most beautiful track in America", Arlington began Thoroughbred racing on October 13, 1927, when more than 20,000 fans braved the cold weather to celebrate the event in high style. Jockey Joe Bollero guided Luxembourg to victory in the first race ever at Arlington.

The track went on to survive the Great Depression and World War II, and later flourished during the Golden Era of Racing. In 1981, Arlington played host to the world's first million dollar race: The Arlington Million. The result of that race is immortalized in bronze at the top of the Paddock, where the "Against All Odds" statue of jockey Bill Shoemaker riding John Henry to a thrilling come-from-behind victory over 40-1 longshot The Bart celebrates Thoroughbred racing's inaugural million dollar race.

• 1927 Arlington Park opens on October 13.
  
• 1933 Arlington installs the world’s first all-electric totalizator.
  
• 1934 Arlington runs turf races for the first time in Illinois history.
  
• 1936 Arlington installs the first photo-finish camera in Chicago racing.
  
• 1940 Arlington installs the first electric starting gate in Chicago racing.
  
• 1941 Arlington becomes the first track ever to bank the turns on its turf track.
  
• 1967 Arlington installs the largest closed-circuit color TV in all of sports.
  
• 1971 Arlington hosts the first commercially sponsored $100,000 race in the U.S. – the Pontiac Grand Prix.
  
• 1971 Arlington introduces trifecta wagering in Chicago.
  
• 1981 Arlington hosts the first-ever million dollar race for Thoroughbreds – the Arlington Million.
  
• 1985 Fire devastates the original grandstand facility.
  
• 1986 With a victory at Arlington, Jack Van Berg becomes the first trainer to win 5,000 races.
  
• 1989 Arlington re-opens as Arlington International Racecourse.
  
• 1996 Arlington hosts the Arlington Citation Challenge, in which Cigar ties Citation’s record for 16 consecutive victories.
  
• 1996 Arlington serves as North and South American simulcast host of the first Dubai World Cup, the world’s first $4 million race.
  
• 1997 Arlington closes after its season ends.
  
• 2000 Arlington re-opens with its second largest crowd in track history (34,243) on May 14.
  
• 2000 Arlington merges with Churchill Downs, Incorporated.
  
• 2001 Arlington returns to its former name, Arlington Park.
  
• 2002 Arlington eclipses the Illinois wagering record on Million Day with a record $13,711,676 wagered on the race card.
  
• 2002 Arlington Park hosts the Breeders’ Cup.
  
• 2004 NTRA awards Arlington Park Chairman Richard Duchossois the Eclipse Award of Merit.
  
• 2005 For the fourth consecutive year, Arlington Park has the highest Father’s Day attendance in the nation.
  
• 2006 Arlington Park names Colonel Roy Arnold as president.
  
• 2007 Arlington Park installs Polytrack, becoming the fifth track in North America with a synthetic racing surface.
  
• 2008 Arlington Park is one of the 1st tracks in the country to have the ability for guests to purchase and print Arlington tickets on-line.