Hinsdale, IL — Harness racing returns to Illinois Thursday (June 6) with the opening of Hawthorne’s weekly meeting at the State Fairground venues. First up is the revisiting of racing Standardbreds on the historic Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. First post for the initial 2024 card is 1 p.m.

Harness racing at Du Quoin at one time was big news. It was a must stop for the Grand Circuit for Hayes Memorial stake events and the host of the illustrious Hambletonian from 1957 through 1980.

Thousands of racing fans would fill its grandstand every year to watch and bet on such Hambletonian champions as Speedy Scot (Ralph Baldwin), Nevele Pride (Stanley Dancer), Speedy Crown (Howard Bessinger), Super Bowl (Stanley Dancer), Green Speed (Billy Haughton), and Burgomeister (Billy Haughton).

The World Trotting Derby replaced the Hambletonian when it was moved to the Meadowlands and its champions included Diamond Exchange (Robert Williams), Baltic Speed (Jan Nordin), Prakas (Bill O’Donnell), Royal Prestige (Berndt Lindstedt) and Peace Corps (John Campbell).

The Du Quoin State Fair has continued since 1923 but its harness racing dates had shrunk to three days in September. This year Du Quoin will host harness racing for 14 days as it alternates with racing at Springfield every other week.

Just one other problem, however. You can’t wager on Du Quoin or Springfield races until their State Fair dates months down the line.

A pair of racing days at Du Quoin were on this week’s schedule but with insufficient entries for two programs we have just Thursday’s lengthy 14-race card. Nevertheless, the card doesn’t lack quality as many young prominent ICF pacers and trotters will compete.

Gorgeous Big Guy (Cordarius Stewart), the 2023 ICF 2-year-old colt pacer of the year, puts his seven-race winning streak on the line in race ten for Illinois bred pacers ages three or four. The Erv Miller trained champion breezed in his season’s debut five days ago, winning in 1:57.3 at Springfield in a Spring Preview event but don’t be deceived by his winning time. Unchallenged on the lead, he raced to the three-quarters in just 1:31 before Cordarious let the gelding loose and he responded with a wicked :26.3 last quarter in his first start since last October.

Gorgeous Big Guy will be tested by Mister Sleaze (Juan Franco), Deputy Dawg (Marcus Turner), Fox Valley Durham (Wyatt Avenatti), Guitar Man (Travis Seekman), Doctor Cruise (Kyle Husted), Rayjen (Nick Prather) and Fox Valley Steeler (Casey Leonard).

A few races earlier a solid field of Illinois bred pacing fillies tangle, headed by 3-year-olds Stevie Mae (Casey Leonard), Illini Belle (Cordarius Stewart), Fox Valley Tasha (Kyle Husted), and Shes Brookes Star (Travis Seekman),

Defending ICF freshman filly trotting titleholder Whiskey Lou (Casey Leonard) makes her first start since last October for the Curt Grummel stable in race 12.

The now 3-year-old Lou’s Legacy trotter takes on stablemate Calypso Moon (Curt Grummel), Radiant Diamond (Rick Schrock), 2023 sophomore filly champion Bell Boots (Matt Avenatti), Zions Really Chilly (Mike Rogers), Judge Me Not (Cordarius Stewart), Lous Andiamo (Jamaal Denson) and Tankmetodennyland (Travis Seekman).