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Today in Chicago History: ‘Miracle Million’ wows Arlington Park just one month after devastating fire

Arlington Park President Richard Duchossois, center, is congratulated on Aug. 25, 1985, for pulling off the Arlington Million, despite a fire on July 31 that destroyed the track’s grandstand. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)
Arlington Park President Richard Duchossois, center, is congratulated on Aug. 25, 1985, for pulling off the Arlington Million, despite a fire on July 31 that destroyed the track’s grandstand. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)
By | krumore@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
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Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 25, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 95 degrees (2003)
  • Low temperature: 47 degrees (1917)
  • Precipitation: 1.88 inches (1972)
  • Snowfall: Trace (1941)
Tents dot the grounds of Arlington Park as thousands of fans attend the Arlington Million on Aug. 25, 1985, despite the fire 3 1/2 prior. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)
Tents dot the grounds of Arlington Park as thousands of fans attend the Arlington Million on Aug. 25, 1985, despite the fire 3 1/2 weeks prior. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)

1985: More than 35,000 fans crowded temporary tents and bleachers to watch the “Miracle Million” at Arlington Park, as Great Britain’s Teleprompter defeated Greinton by less than a length.

Fire tore through Arlington Park racetrack 40 years ago. Less than a month later, the season’s biggest event went on as scheduled.

The Arlington team was recognized by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association with an Eclipse Award, the first ever awarded to a racetrack, less than a month following a devastating fire.

In this Aug. 26, 2020, photo released by the Antioch Police Department is Kyle Rittenhouse in Antioch, Ill. (Antioch Police Department via AP)
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle during a protest in Kenosha in 2020. (Antioch Police Department)

2020: Two people were shot to death and a third was wounded as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle during a third night of protests in Kenosha, over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake.

Rittenhouse, who was taken into custody in Illinois the next day, said he was defending himself after the three men attacked him as he tried to protect businesses from protesters.

A Kenosha County jury on Nov. 19, 2021, acquitted Rittenhouse of all charges against him, finding the teenage gunman acted in self-defense.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) and his team celebrate his no-hitter 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 25, 2020, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) and his team celebrate his no-hitter 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 25, 2020, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)

Also in 2020: Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito struck out 13 and walked only 1 in a 101-pitch no-hitter — the 19th in the franchise’s history. White Sox pitchers have thrown more no-hitters than any other American League team.

Chicago White Sox pitchers have thrown 20 no-hitters since 1902 — including 3 perfect games. Relive them all here.

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