Benjamin Franklin Lindheimer (October 1, 1889 – June 5, 1960) was an American businessman who owned Chicago's

Washington Park Race Track Washington Park Race Track was a popular horse racing venue in the Chicago metropolitan area from 1884 until 1977. It had two locations during its existence. It was first situated in what is the current location of the Washington Park Subdiv ...

from 1935 to his death in 1960 and was the majority shareholder and Managing Director of Arlington Park Race Track. As well, he was the owner of the

Los Angeles Dons The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the newly formed football league the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 to 1949, and played their home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dons were the first pr ...

of the All-America Football Conference. Widely respected Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Jones of Calumet Farm was quoted by ''

Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twi ...

'' as saying that Lindheimer "was the savior of Chicago racing" and that "Arlington Park became the finest track in the world—certainly the finest I've ever been on." Lindheimer is well remembered as the person who promoted the 1955

match race A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head. In sailboat racing it is differentiated from a fleet race, which almost always involves three or more competitors competing against each other, and team racing where teams consi ...

broadcast by CBS Television in which

Preakness Preakness may refer to: * The Preakness or Preakness Stakes, an American flat thoroughbred horse race held in Baltimore, Maryland * Preakness (horse), an American thoroughbred racehorse from Preakness Stables * Preakness, New Jersey, a section of W ...

and Belmont Stakes winner

Nashua Nashua may refer to: * Nashaway people, Native American tribe living in 17th-century New England Places In Australia: * Nashua, New South Wales In the United States: * Nashua, California * Nashua, Iowa * Nashua, Minnesota * Nashua, Kansas City ...

defeated Kentucky Derby winner, Swaps. In 1932, Lindheimer managed the successful election campaign for

Henry Horner Henry Horner (November 30, 1878 – October 6, 1940) was an American politician. Horner served as the 28th Governor of Illinois, serving from January 1933 until his death in October 1940. Horner was noted as the first Jewish governor of Illinois. ...

, who was elected Democratic

Governor of Illinois The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by p ...

. Benjamin Lindheimer died in 1960 at his vacation home in Beverly Hills, California. His remains were returned to Chicago for burial in

Rosehill Cemetery Rosehill Cemetery (founded 1859) is an American garden cemetery on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and at , is the largest cemetery in the City of Chicago. According to legend, the name "Rosehill" resulted from a City Clerk's error – the a ...

. Following its creation, Benjamin Lindheimer was inducted in the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame. Long involved with the business, adopted daughter Marjorie Lindheimer Everett took over management of the racetracks. Funds from his estate were used by his widow to create the Lindheimer Astrophysical Research Center at

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

.Lindheimer Observatory: Dedication
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindheimer, Benjamin F. 1889 births 1960 deaths Businesspeople from Chicago All-America Football Conference Arlington Park Washington Park Race Track Burials at Rosehill Cemetery 20th-century American businesspeople