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Arlington is home to the worlds first million dollar race. The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced annually in August over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The Arlington Million was the first US thoroughbred race to offer a purse of $1,000,000 and automatic entry to the Breeders' Cup Turf. The Arlington Million was introduced in 1981. The horse "John Henry" won the race twice. On August 30, 1981, Willie Shoemaker became the first jockey to win a $1 million thoroughbred horse race when John Henry took the inaugural Arlington Million by a nose over The Bart. The race has been and continues to be a draw for top notch horses from around the world. That is why there are so many flags flying at Arlington. The track honors those countries with strong horse racing heritage and those countries who have sent horses to compete in the Million. These flags are from left to right: Japan, Great Britain. USA, Australia, Ireland and France. These flags are on the backside overlooking the paddock area and directly above the famous sculpture commemorating the inaugural Million.