Arlington, once a small town with a population under 10,000, had a vibrant and somewhat wild history during the Prohibition era, marked by underground gambling and horse racing. Central to this history was Top O’Hill Terrace, an infamous casino operating in the 1930s and 1940s, located near Arlington Downs, a major horse racing track built in 1929. Arlington Downs initially thrived after parimutuel betting was legalized in 1933 but declined after the law was repealed in 1937. The casino, owned by Charles “Fred” Browning, was heavily fortified against police raids and rumored to have hosted famous figures like Bonnie and Clyde and Frank Sinatra. Despite its success, opposition from figures like Baptist pastor J. Frank Norris and multiple raids by Texas Rangers led to its eventual closure and sale in the early 1950s.
Today, remnants of this era remain beneath Arlington Baptist University, where the crumbling Top O’Hill Terrace still holds underground tunnels and artifacts, though many tunnels were filled in for safety reasons. Preservation efforts continue, though some structures are deteriorating, and active restoration plans have stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Arlington Downs was demolished in the late 1950s, the city recently revived its racing heritage with the 2024 Java House Grand Prix, held near the original racetrack site, symbolizing a nod to Arlington’s rich history of entertainment and racing.
