The Secretariat Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf.
Arlington racetrack management offered to run him in the American Derby but it was too soon after his Belmont Stakes victory.
This event was called the Arlington Invitational with $125,000 stakes offered in order to showcase Secretariat to Chicago racing fans and it was held 30 June 1973.
A crowd of 41,223 witnessed seeing the three challengers grouped as a single betting entry at 6–1 and Secretariat was 1–20 odds-on which created a minus pool of $17,941.
Secretariat won the 1+1⁄8 miles race by nine lengths in 1:47 flat, just 1⁄5 off the track record set by Damascus with My Gallant and Our Native running second and third respectively.
One year and one day after Secretariat's performance at Arlington Park, track management scheduled a race to honor him.