Arlington Classic

The Arlington Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-old horses held annually at the end of June at Arlington Park race track near Chicago, Illinois. A Grade III event, currently it is raced over a distance of 8.5 furlongs (1 1/16 miles) on turf.

At one time the Arlington Classic was one of the most important races in the United States, drawing the best 3-year-olds in the country. According to the July 25, 1932 issue of TIME magazine, it was then the richest race for 3-year-olds in America.

On November 28, 2007, this Grade III stakes race was downgraded to an ungraded stakes by the American Graded Stakes Committee, but it has been returned to its Grade III status.

The Arlington Classic became part of Arlington Park's "Mid-America Triple" which included the American Derby in July and the Secretariat Stakes in August. The Triple was last won by Honor Glide in 1997.

A noteworthy upset in the Arlington Classic occurred in 1946 when Assault, who had just won the United States Triple Crown, finished last.

The Arlington Classic was run at the now defunct Washington Park Racetrack from 1943 through 1945. It was known as the Grand Prix Stakes in 1971, 1972 and 1973 and in 1977 it was made open to horses three-year-olds and up as was labelled as the Arlington Classic Invitational Handicap. There was no race held in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1988, 1998 and 1999.

The Arlington Classic was raced on dirt from 1929–1973, 1977–1987, 1989-1993. Since its inception, the Arlington Classic has been contested over a variety of distances: