County fair harness racing returns to Illinois
HINSDALE, Illinois – The thrill of thundering hooves returns to
Illinois county fairs this year after the pandemic closed fairgrounds in 2020.
Across the Prairie State, 27 county fairs will feature harness horse racing
with the first races to begin June 5th at the Macon County Fair in Decatur,
Illinois.
“There is a lot of optimism in the sport right now,” said IHHA President Clark
Fairley. “Breeding numbers are up. The number of foals born is up. Fans can
expect great competition and excitement not only at the county fairs but also
at the Springfield and DuQuoin State Fairs.”
The number of foals born in 2020 was 354, up from 144 born in 2018. And while
that is a far cry from the peak of 2,535 horses born in 1984, it is solid
growth that can be built upon. Because of the recently passed “racino” bill,
Illinois-bred horses will be racing for larger purses and better racing
opportunities in the years to come and that has driven interest in owning
Illinois Standarbred racehorses.
At the Illini Classic yearling sale this year, Super Bowl champion linebacker
Devin White made news when he purchased three Illinois-bred Standardbred horses
with his friend Adam Hawthorne. Hawthorne said that they plan to race the
horses in the Illinois county fair circuit this year.
“Devin is really excited to get into the business,” said Hawthorne. “This is
his first time getting involved in horse racing and we plan to buy more
Illinois-bred horses next year. Illinois is my favorite state to race in, bar
none.”
Illinois horsemen are hopeful that the racino bill will pump new life into the
sport which has seen other states like Indiana and Ohio invest more into their
horse racing industry. Those investments translate into tens of thousands of
jobs from blacksmiths to equine veterinarians, hay and grain dealers, grooms,
trainers, and more.
At its peak, Illinois harness racing employed around 40,000 people, most of
them in agricultural jobs.
“It’s a labor-intensive sport,” said Fairley. “One racehorse employs as many as five people.”
County fair races run from June 5th to September 8th. Racing will be held at the Springfield State Fair August 13 and 14, and August 18 and 19. The DuQuoin State Fair will host races on August 27 and 28.
