Washington Park Futurity Stakes
The Washington Park Futurity Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the now defunct Washington Park Race Track in Woodlawn, Chicago. A race on dirt for two-year-olds, it was first run in 1937 as a six furlong event. Placed on hiatus for two years, it returned as an annual feature in 1940.
| Discontinued stakes race | |
| Location | Washington Park Race Track Woodlawn, Chicago, Illinois, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1937 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | n/a |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6.5 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Two-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $200,000 |
From 1959 through 1961 the race was hosted by Chicago's Arlington Park race track where it was run at a distance of six and a half furlongs. Made permanent at Arlington Park, the Washington Park Futurity was merged with the Arlington Futurity Stakes and is known as the Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes.
Race notes
During its tenure, the Washington Park Futurity hosted some of the best horses in the United States.
- The 1941 edition was won by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Alsab.
- In 1947, Bewitch won, Citation finished second, and Free America was third. All three horses were owned by Calumet Farm and all were trained by Jimmy Jones.[1]
- 1953 winner Hasty Road went on to win the 1954 Preakness Stakes
- 1959 winner Venetian Way won the next year's Kentucky Derby
Records
Speed record: (at distance of 6 furlongs)
- 1:09.60 - Swoon's Son (1955), Restless Wind (1958), Venetian Way (1959)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Bill Hartack (1956, 1957, 1961)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - John Marsch (1942, 1943, 1944)
- 3 - Fred W. Hooper (1946, 1956, 1960)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Ridan | Bill Hartack | LeRoy Jolley | Mrs. Moody Jolley | 1:18.00 |
| 1960 | Crozier | Braulio Baeza | Charles R. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1:15.20 |
| 1959 | Venetian Way | Manuel Gonzalez | Victor J. Sovinski | Sunny Blue Farm | 1:09.60 |
| 1958 | Restless Wind | Bill Shoemaker | Horatio Luro | Llangollen Farm Stable | 1:09.60 |
| 1957 | Jewel's Reward | Bill Hartack | Ivan H. Parke | Maine Chance Farm | 1:11.20 |
| 1956 | Greek Game † | Bill Hartack | Ivan H. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1:10.80 |
| 1955 | Swoon's Son | David Erb | Lex Wilson | E. Gay Drake | 1:09.60 |
| 1954 | Royal Note | Eddie Arcaro | Frank Gilpin | Wilton Stable | 1:10.80 |
| 1953 | Hasty Road | Eddie Arcaro | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm | 1:12.80 |
| 1952 | Mr. Paradise | Eddie Arcaro | Howard C. Hoffman | Ada L. Rice | 1:10.60 |
| 1951 | Oh Leo | Paul J. Bailey | Milton Resseguet | James H. Dunn | 1:10.20 |
| 1950 | To Market | Angel Rivera | William J. Hirsch | Sam A. Mason II | 1:12.00 |
| 1949 | Curtice | Ovie Scurlock | Robert V. McGarvey | Jean Denemark | 1:10.20 |
| 1948 | Model Cadet | Anthony Skoronski | Tom Smith | Ada L. Rice | 1:12.20 |
| 1947 | Bewitch | Douglas Dodson | Jimmy Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:10.40 |
| 1946 | Education | John Adams | Ivan H. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1:12.20 |
| 1945 | Revoked | Albert Bodiou | Howard Wells | Dr. Eslie Ashbury | 1:11.80 |
| 1944 | Free For All | Otto Grohs | Burley Parke | John Marsch | 1:12.00 |
| 1943 | Occupy | Lyle Whiting | Burley Parke | John Marsch | 1:13.40 |
| 1942 | Occupation | Lester Balaski | Burley Parke | John Marsch | 1:12.00 |
| 1941 | Alsab | Robert Vedder | Sarge Swenke | Albert Sabath | 1:11.00 |
| 1940 | Porter's Cap | Carroll Bierman | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 1:12.80 |
| 1937 | Tiger | Alfred Robertson | Robert V. McGarvey | Milky Way Farm Stable | 1:11.00 |