A devastating fire destroyed Arlington’s grandstand and clubhouse in July 1985, leaving the signature meeting in doubt. Temporary facilities were assembled quickly enough for racing to continue less than a month later. The event became known as the Miracle Million, reflecting the effort to stage it after such extensive damage. That episode is central to the venue’s history because it connects the sporting occasion with the people who rebuilt its immediate surroundings.
Arlington’s later grandstand was a response to the loss of the earlier buildings, giving the course the substantial architectural presence remembered by many racegoers. It became part of the venue’s visual identity throughout the following decades. Arlington no longer stages racing, so photographs, course plans and results here describe a historical sporting site.
Historical Museum. For visitors to the former racecourse’s area, period houses and local collections offer a way into the village’s history.
Metropolis. Look up a performance at the downtown arts centre, with restaurants nearby for an evening in Arlington Heights.
Arlington Heights has 77,676 residents.
