Illinois Racing Board approves pari-mutuel license for state Department of Agriculture
June 15, 2023,The Illinois Racing Board at its June 15 meeting approved the pari-mutuel license for the state Department of Agriculture, which oversees Standardbred racing at the Illinois State Fair at Springfield and the Du Quoin State Fair. The two facilities will offer a combined eight days of racing, including a double card at Springfield.
Springfield will race Aug. 10, 11, 12, 16 and 17. The Aug. 10 card will offer programs at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., while first post time for the other four dates will be 11 a.m. Du Quoin will race three programs — Aug. 28-30 — with first post time of 4 p.m.
Hawthorne Race Course handles the pari-mutuel responsibilities for the two fairs. Jim Miller, who oversees daily operations at Hawthorne with a focus on the racing product, told the IRB the Du Quoin schedule represents the addition of one day of racing, which he said was a plus for the state’s harness racing industry.
Hawthorne is providing purse money for non-betting races at Springfield and Du Quoin this spring and summer so younger horses can have racing opportunities before the fall Standardbred meet at Hawthorne.
Hawthorne has signed the agreement with the Department of Agriculture. A spokesperson for the department told the IRB the document is being circulated for departmental approval.
It was noted during the meeting that Illinois has about 100 county fairs, 27 of which offer Standardbred racing.
Racing dates applications for 2024 are due by July 31, and dates are awarded in September. IRB chairman Daniel Beiser encouraged all parties to work together on the applications.
“I don’t think it would serve any purpose to have a contentious situation regarding racing dates,” he said.
Given the fact an available casino license for another track in the Chicago market has not been awarded, it appears Hawthorne will again host Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing in 2024. The state’s other extended-meet pari-mutuel track, FanDuel Sportsbook and Racing (Fairmount Park), hosts only Thoroughbred meets. Its winter harness meets were discontinued in the late 1990s.