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.
From 1959 through 1961 the race was hosted by Chicago's Arlington Park race track where it was run at a distance of 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. 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 Time1961RidanBill HartackLeRoy JolleyMrs. Moody Jolley1:18.001960CrozierBraulio BaezaCharles R. ParkeFred W. Hooper1:15.201959Venetian WayManuel GonzalezVictor J. SovinskiSunny Blue Farm1:09.601958Restless WindBill ShoemakerHoratio LuroLlangollen Farm Stable1:09.601957Jewel's RewardBill HartackIvan H. ParkeMaine Chance Farm1:11.201956Greek Game †Bill HartackIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper1:10.801955Swoon's SonDavid ErbLex WilsonE. Gay Drake1:09.601954Royal NoteEddie ArcaroFrank GilpinWilton Stable 1:10.801953Hasty RoadEddie ArcaroHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm1:12.801952Mr. ParadiseEddie ArcaroHoward C. HoffmanAda L. Rice1:10.601951Oh LeoPaul J. BaileyMilton ResseguetJames H. Dunn1:10.201950To MarketAngel RiveraWilliam J. HirschSam A. Mason II 1:12.001949CurticeOvie ScurlockRobert V. McGarveyJean Denemark1:10.201948Model CadetAnthony SkoronskiTom SmithAda L. Rice1:12.201947BewitchDouglas DodsonJimmy JonesCalumet Farm1:10.401946EducationJohn AdamsIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper1:12.201945RevokedAlbert BodiouHoward WellsDr. Eslie Ashbury1:11.801944Free For AllOtto GrohsBurley ParkeJohn Marsch1:12.001943OccupyLyle WhitingBurley ParkeJohn Marsch1:13.401942Occupation Lester BalaskiBurley ParkeJohn Marsch1:12.001941Alsab Robert VedderSarge SwenkeAlbert Sabath1:11.001940Porter's CapCarroll BiermanTom SmithCharles S. Howard1:12.801937TigerAlfred RobertsonRobert V. McGarveyMilky Way Farm Stable1:11.00 † In 1956, California Kid won but was disqualified bumping in the stretch and set back to second.
Notes
References June 26, 1937 Palm Beach Post article on the inaugural running of the Washington Park Futurity September 3, 1961 New York Times article on the 1961 edition of the Washington Park Futurity