It was first situated at what became the Washington Park Subdivision of the Woodlawn community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States.

The original track and its accompanying Jockey Club were social draws in the late 19th century, but modern developments and changes in the betting laws led to the decline of both.

The track was closed and reopened according to the contemporary state and local laws on gambling and eventually waned in popularity and social importance.

In the 20th century, some of the Thoroughbreds to race at Washington Park included Triple Crown winners Citation and Whirlaway.

In 1883, a group of about 500 Chicagoans, led by General Philip Sheridan, banded together to create the Washington Park Jockey Club.

"[2] The track was part of the long tradition of constructing special facilities for sporting events and public assembly in the Chicago parks.

When Washington Park Race Track first organized the American Derby in 1883, General Philip Sheridan served as its first President.

In 1905, a standing room only crowd at the track watched the finale of the first annual Chicago Marathon foot race.

[2] The new Washington Park Race Track was located west of Halsted Street just outside Homewood village bounds.

The Illinois Central Railroad built a spur line from its mainline at Harvey to the newly relocated race track.

[2] Another significant race run at the new track was the Grade 2 stakes Washington Park Handicap for three-year-olds and up.

[19] On August 31, 1955, Washington Park hosted a match race between Nashua and Swaps with a distance of a mile and a quarter.

For example, in 1970, Marge Lindheimer Everett, manager of both Arlington and Washington Park, confessed to having bribed Illinois Governor Otto Kerner to gain premium racing dates.