by Kurt Becker

The Coles County Fair in Charleston, Ill., reached a milestone Monday afternoon, July 28, becoming the first county fair venue in the Prairie State to notch 50 miles in 2:00 or faster.

Rich in history as the site of a 19th century Lincoln-Douglas debate, and also remembered as the locale where Hall of Fame Immortal Frank Ervin recorded the first and last victories of his storied career, the Coles County Fair realized an unprecedented 50th magic mile on Monday when Misty Pro cruised home by 11 lengths in 1:58 in the Filly and Mare Open Pace for driver Darla Martin.

Known for its unusual, three-turn racetrack, Coles County recorded its first 2:00 mile on Aug. 2, 1994, when K J Flash toured the half-mile oval in 2:00 for driver Kennedy Lindsey. In the 14 years since then, the Coles County Fair and the Brown County Fair (Mt. Sterling) have dueled for 2:00 supremacy in the Land of Lincoln, with Coles County surging to the top of the leaderboard this week by an all-time count of 52-48.

The Coles County Fair also holds Illinois county fair records for fastest 2-year-old mile ever (Fox Valley Coolest, 1:56.3 in 2007) and fastest mile in the history of the Midwestern Amateur Driving Association (Skipa Storm and driver W. Arnold Ralston, 1:57.3 in 2002). Graham Ross, Jr. added yet another jewel to Charleston’s crown, becoming the oldest driver ever to win in 2:00 or faster at an Illinois fair when he accomplished the feat in 2006 at the age of 77 years, nine months, and 25 days.

With six 2:00 performances and counting this week, Coles County now sets its sights on sole possession of the all-time record for most 2:00 miles in one meet at an Illinois county fair. The current mark of 10 such miles was established in 2004 at the Logan County Fair, in Lincoln, and was tied in 2007 at Charleston.