Whether it’s to catch the excitement of live racing, or the chance to wager on simulcasting from around the country, horse racing fans in Illinois have a number of choices. Throughout the summer, Chicago’s famed Arlington Park hosts 88 days of live racing, while Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville outside of St. Louis features their own 68-day card. Although there is no live racing in the summer, Hawthorne Race Course is open every day for simulcasting to the end of September leading to the 61-day Fall Meet.
Million dollar racing at Arlington Park
Arlington Park is world-famous as the host of the $1 million Grade I Arlington Million for 3-year-olds and up going 1 ¼ miles on the turf. First run in 1981, it was the first thoroughbred race to offer a $1 million purse. That race was won by the legendary jockey Willie Shoemaker aboard John Henry, who would go on to win again in 1984. Since 2007, the Arlington Million has been designated a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeder’s Cup World Championships BC Turf. This year’s Arlington Million is set for August 17.
Fairmount summer and Hawthorne fall meets
With Arlington hosting live racing on Thursday through to Sunday, Fairmount is one of the few tracks in the country to offer an early-week Tuesday afternoon of racing, with a 1:00 PM ET post-time, as well as a Friday and Saturday evening card with racing starting at 7:30 PM ET. The highlight of the Fairmount season take place on September 10, 2013, as six stakes races, restricted to Illinois-bred horses only, are run in one day. After a summer of simulcasting, the ponies get back on the track at the 122-year-old Hawthorne course on October 8, 2013.
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