ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- There is no question and no competition when it comes to which race track is the United States' most international. It is Arlington Park in this suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the heart of America.

	Arlington Park will host the third leg of the Emirates World Series on Saturday.

It has held that distinction since August 30, 1981 when the track hosted the world's first million dollar thoroughbred race, The Arlington Million. The track was looking to bring attention to Mid-American racing so it put one million dollars up for a turf race. Now all it needed was acceptance by the international racing community and a great race. It got both.

Four European runners were part of that field, including Madam Gay who would finish third under the great jockey Lester Piggott. Also running for that first million was another filly, Mrs. Penny along with France's Argument and Fingal's Cave. The race itself turned out to be a classic as America's turf star John Henry, under legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker, came roaring up on the outside of 40-1 long shot The Bart to win the world's first million dollar turf race by a nose. Twenty years later it's still the closest finish in Million history.

In the first 18 runnings of the Arlington Million, the race attracted 36 runners from Great Britain that have included past winners Tolomeo (1983) and Teleprompter (1985). France has been represented by 23 starters and two winners, Mill Native (1988) and Dear Doctor (1992). There have been eight starters in the Million from Canada, and one each from Ireland, Hong Kong and South America.

The driving force behind Arlington's international presence has been its chairman since 1983, Richard L. Duchossois. The Chicago-area native who turns 80-years-old this Fall has always been passionate about international racing.

"It's something I?ve always believe in." Duchossois said on the eve of the 19th Arlington Million. "Thoroughbred racing has an international language and the world has gotten smaller and smaller."

Duchossois was also one of the driving forces behind the concept that evolved into the Emirates World Series. The International race series is now in its third year under the sponsorship of the United Arab Emirates multiple award winning airline, Emirates.

"It was around 1996 I believe that Nick Clarke of the International Racing Bureau and I first sat down to have serious conversations about this concept," Duchossois remembered. " It's a terrific series that has now grown to 12 events in 10 countries on four continents and I believe will continue to expand. The future in international racing is unlimited."

The 2000 Arlington Million was the first to be part of the Emirates World Series as the track reopened after being closed in 1998 and 1999.

"We've overcome a lot here at Arlington," Duchossois said. " We had the fire in 1985 that completely destroyed the old facility but we came back 23 days later to host 35,000 fans in temporary bleachers and under tents in the race that has always been known as the 'Miracle Million.'"

It was an accomplishment that earned Arlington the first Eclipse Award for a racetrack.

In 1986 Arlington introduced the International Festival of Racing, a 13-day sessions that attracted horses from Europe and Canada that has now evolved into this Saturday's series of three Grade I turf races, the Arlington Million, The Beverly D. and the Secretariat for 3-year-olds.

The 1988 Million was moved to Woodbine Race Course in Toronto, Canada while the new Arlington racecourse was being built.

June 20, 1989 was the re-opening date of new newly named Arlington International Racecourse. It's centerpiece is the six-story, 700,000-square-foot grandstand and clubhouse with seats for 12,000 and an overall capacity of 35,000. This extraordinary investment in the future of thoroughbred racing earned Arlington a third special Eclipse award.

In 2000, Arlington International Racecourse merged with Churchill Downs, Inc. and was renamed Arlington Park, but for most of the world it will always be thought of as Arlington International, America's international leader in thoroughbred racing.

"I hope that's true," Duchossois said, "That's something we've always believed in and promoted here. I'm very proud of the role we've played in international racing and that we are part of the Emirates World Series."