Just like in most states in America, in Illinois horse racing kicked off in the early 19th century, and way before grandstands or pari-mutuel betting. We are talking about the 1830s, where settlers raced their horses on makeshift tracks at country fairs.

Yes, horse racing back then wasn’t really that popular or professional. Horse racing back then was just a pastime activity that entertained the locals.

THe Illinois Department of Agriculture notes that these fairs have become the cradle of harness racing. By 1840s, Chicago had its first jockey club and a harness course near 26th and Indiana, and this was a big day for horse racing history in the state.

Many said that this was “the sport of people” and anyone with a horse could join in. Yes, not very professional, but it was incredibly entertaining.

By the late 1800s, Illinois racing hit its stride, especially in Chicago. This meant that the popularity of the sport demanded a professional racetrack and a regulatory body overseeing everything in the sport.

In 1884, the Washington Park Jockey Cup opened its ritzy track at 61st and Cottage Groove, hosting the American Derby.

The 1893 American Derby, won by Boundless, offered a $50,000 purse, the second-richest race in 19th-century America. Meanwhile, Hawthorne Racecourse in Stickney fired up in 1891, dodging political heat from city bookies, and Fairmount Park in Collinsville joined the scene in 1925, cementing Illinois as a racing hub.

While Thoroughbreds stole headlines, harness racing carved its own niche. Balmoral Park and Maywood Park, both opened in the 1920s, became harness hotspots, hosting stakes like the American Nationals.

The Illinois State Fair in Springfield turned into a proving ground, with stars like Dan Patch dazzling crowds in the early 1900s.

The IRB reports that at its peak in the 1980s, Illinois foaled over 2,000 Standardbreds annually—a far cry from today’s 140 or so, per The Caucus Blog. The 1995 Million Dollar Bonus, won by Koochie at Sportsman’s Park, marked a high note before decline set in.

Arlington Park’s rise to fame peaked with the “Miracle Million” in 1985. After a devastating 1985 fire gutted the grandstand, the track rebuilt and hosted Teleprompter’s win, simulcast to 8,217 fans at Sportsman’s—a testament to Illinois’ resilience, per Harnesslink.

The Illinois Derby, a Triple Crown prep race from 1923 to 2017, added to the state’s prestige, drawing contenders to Hawthorne.

Fairmount’s FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing (formerly Fairmount Park) kept the legacy alive, hosting the Fairmount Derby and earning a rep as one of the fastest dirt tracks around.

The 21st century brought challenges. Arlington Park closed in 2021 after nearly a century, sold to the Chicago Bears for a potential stadium amid falling attendance and $10 million in losses over its final four years, per The Caucus Blog.

Balmoral and Maywood shuttered in 2015 and 2016, leaving just Hawthorne and FanDuel as the last tracks standing. Betting handle dropped 32% from 2009 to 2019, and horsemen fled to states with bigger purses, per the same source.

Today, Illinois racing is a shadow of its heyday but not out of the race. Hawthorne’s Night of Champions and FanDuel’s live Tuesday races keep the flame flickering, with the IRB overseeing a leaner but determined industry.

The industry is far from perfect, but it is the only thing that we have at the moment. Who knows, maybe in the future we will have more high-end racetracks and more prestigious races that will bring back the charm of the sport.