The Washington Park Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of September at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of a mile and one-eighth (9 furlongs). The race is designed to be a prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Inaugurated at the now defunct Washington Park Race Track, in 1958 it was moved to Arlington Park. In 1978 and 1979 it was contested on turf.

In 1935 the race was run as the Washington Park Championship Stakes and from 1980 through 1985 as the Washington Park Stakes.

Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances: 6 furlongs : 1927-1934, 1938; 1 mile : 1951-1958, 1960–1962, 1965–1972; miles : 1939, 1959, 1963–1964, 1975–1977, 1980–1987, 1989–1997, 2000; 2013 miles : 1978-1979 (on turf), 2002–present; : 1926, 1935–36, 1940–1950, 1973–74, 2001.

Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles ) 1:53.53 - Suave (2006) (Dirt) 1:55.17 - Lewis Michael (2007) (Polytrack) Record at 1 mile on dirt - 1:32.20 Dr. Fager (1968) - Note that this time broke the world's record at the distance on dirt. The record still stands

Most wins: 2 - Misstep (1929, 1930) 2 - Armed (1946, 1947) 2 - That's A Nice (1979, 1980) 2 - Perfect Drift (2003, 2005) 2 - Gran Estreno (2009, 2010)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 - Bill Shoemaker (1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1980)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 - Harry Trotsek (1950, 1974, 1975)

Most wins by an owner: 4 - Calumet Farm (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2014Avanzare4Christopher A. EmighThomas F. ProctorLanni/Youngblood1:52.762013Wilcox Inn5James GrahamMichael StidhamLael Stable and All In Racing1:49.622012Middie4Francisco C. TorresPhilip J. OliverHumphrey/Watts/St. George Farm Racing1:49.272011Mister Mardi Gras4Chris M. Block Lothenbach Stables1:51.602010Gran Estreno7Michael BazeMichael StidhamFeel the Thunder Stable 1:56.882009Gran Estreno6E.T. BairdMichael StidhamFeel The Thunder Stable2:00.002008 no race 2007Lewis Michael4E. T. BairdWayne M. CatalanoFrank Calabrese1:55.172006Suave5Calvin BorelPaul J. McGeeJay Em Ess Stable1:53.532005Perfect Drift6Mark GuidryMurray W. JohnsonStonecrest Farm1:54.272004Eye of the Tiger 4Eusebio Razo Jr.Kiaran McLaughlinJohn D. Gunther 1:56.872003Perfect Drift 4Pat DayMurray W. JohnsonStonecrest Farm 1:55.492002Tenpins4Robby AlbaradoDonald R. WinfreeJoseph Vitello1:55.072001Guided Tour5Larry MelanconNiall O'Callaghan Morton Fink2:00.762000Blazing Sword6Jose A. Rivera IIKathleen O'ConnellStonehedge Farm Inc.1:50.591999Beboppin Baby4Garrett GomezJoe Kasperski Jr.Lawrence Karp1:49.031998 no race 1997 no race 1996Polar Expedition5Mark GuidryHugh H. RobertsonJames Cody1:49.971995 no race 1994Brother Brown4Pat DayRon GoodridgeM. Bowline & B. Cohrs1:49.771993Powerful Punch4Curt BourqueHarvey L. VanierRussell L. Reineman1:50.191992Irish Swap5Bruce PoyadouJoseph E. BroussardRandy Hendricks1:47.831991Black Tie Affair5Shane SellersErnie T. PoulosJeffrey Sullivan1:49.451990Lay Down6Herb McCauleyC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1:48.401989Blushing John4Pat DayRichard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson1:50.801988 no race 1987 Taylor's Special6 John LivelyWilliam I. MottWilliam F. Lucas1:51.601986 no race 1985Par Flite4Earlie FiresCarl NafzgerTadahiro Hotehama1:47.601984Thumbsucker5Sam MapleJohn Drumwright GAT Stable1:48.601983Harham's Sizzler4Juvenal DiazLou M. GoldfineHarham Farm1:49.801982Summer Advocate5Pat DayMike BallDon Ball et al.1:49.801981Rossi Gold5Pat DayRay Lawrence Jr.Leslie Combs II1:48.601980Spectacular Bid4Bill ShoemakerBud DelpHawksworth Farm1:46.201979That's A Nice5Isaac Jimenez P. Noel HickeyFrank J. Sitzberger1:50.001978That's A Nice4Douglas RichardP. Noel HickeyFrank J. Sitzberger1:50.601977Majestic Light4Mike VeneziaJohn W. RussellOgden Mills Phipps1:48.001976Double Edge Sword6Vincent Bracciale Jr.Richard E. Dutrow Sr.Aisquith Stable1:48.201975Hasty Flyer4Heriberto ArroyoHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm1:48.601974Super Sail6William GavidiaHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm2:03.001973Burning On5Douglas Richard Ralph ChristensonDan W. Scott II2:02.201972Staunch Avenger4David WhitedGin Collins Annette Mann1:34.401971Well Mannered4Mickey SolomoneAnthony L. BasileBwamazon Farm1:34.601970Doc's T.V.4David WhitedJohn MeauxHarvey Peltier1:36.601969Night Invader3David WhitedJoseph H. Pierce Jr.Sheila Pierce1:36.201968Dr. Fager4Braulio BaezaJohn A. NerudTartan Stable1:32.201967Handsome Boy4Eddie BelmonteH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1:37.601966Bold Bidder4Pete AndersonWoody StephensJohn R. Gaines1:32.801965Take Over4Larry KunitakeMontell StewartMontell Stewart1:35.201964Gun Bow4Walter BlumEdward A. Neloy Gedney Farm1:51.001963Crimson Satan4Herberto HinojosaCharles KerrCrimson King Farm1:49.601962Prove It5Bill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1:33.801961Chief of Chiefs4Clarence MeauxNoble AtchisonAda L. Rice1:34.601960T. V. Lark3Johnny SellersPaul K. ParkerC. R. Mac Stable1:34.201959Round Table5Bill ShoemakerWilliam MolterKerr Stable1:47.201958Clem4Johnny SellersWilliam W. StephensAdele L. Rand1:34.001957Pucker Up4Bill ShoemakerA. A. RobertsonAda L. Rice1:34.801956Swaps4Bill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1:33.401955Jet Action4Bill ShoemakerLarry W. Kidd Maine Chance Farm1:34.001954Pet Bully6 Bill Hartack Tommy KellyAda L. Rice1:34.401953Sickle's Image5William CookClarence HartwickClarence Hartwick1:36.801952Crafty Admiral4Eric GuerinRobert B. OdomCharfran Stable1:36.801951Curandero5Avelino GomezWilliam J. HirschKing Ranch1:34.601950Inseparable5Kenneth ChurchHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm2:06.201949Coaltown4Steve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm2:03.801948Fervent4Newbold Pierson Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm2:04.801947Armed6Douglas DodsonHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm2:02.001946Armed5Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:01.001945Busher3Johnny Longden George M. OdomLouis B. Mayer2:01.801944Equifox7Albert BoidouHoward WellsHoward Wells2:03.001943Royal Nap †3Warren MehrtensMax HirschLazy F. Ranch2:05.001943Thumbs Up †4Otto GrohsCarl A. RolesLouis B. Mayer2:05.001942Marriage6Charley CorbettRene A. CowardR. A. Coward & Carl Dupuis2:02.401941Big Pebble5Jack WestropeWilliam B. FinneganCircle M. Ranch2:03.201940War Plumage4Nick WallHoward WellsJames Cox Brady Jr.2:04.001939Star Boarder3Albert BoidouJames W. SmithDixiana Stables1:50.201938Dora May5Kenneth McCombsHenry ForrestRockhome Stable1:12.001936Where Away4Charley CorbettAnthony PelleteriAnthony Pelleteri2:03.001935Late Date6Alfred RobertsonR. E. MahoneyBrentwood Stable2:06.801934Isaiah4Johnny KacalaEdward TrotterEdward Trotter1:12.001933No More5Eddie ArcaroClarence E. DavisonClarence E. Davison1:12.601932Gold Step5Herman SchutteS. H. FairbanksMrs. S. H. Fairbanks1:12.001931Tannery4R. Heigle John J. GreelyEdward F. Prichard1:13.001930Misstep5Elmore ShropshireMose LowensteinLe Mar Stock Farm Stable1:12.401929Misstep4Clarence McCrossenMose LowensteinLe Mar Stock Farm Stable 1:12.201928 no race 1927Girl Scout5S. Cooper Charles E. DurnellThree D's Stock Farm Stable1:15.001926Smiling Gus3L. Edwards Charles E. DurnellCharles E. Durnell2:10.60

* † In 1943 there was a Dead Heat for first.

References The 2007 Washington Park Handicap at the NTRA Ten Things You Should Know About the Washington Park Handicap at Hello Race Fans