Following an eventful year – Illinois State Fair

By The 2015 Illinois State Fair harness racing card ended with a bang as 6-year-old pacing horse Time To Roll turned the fastest mile of the meet in the final race of four days.

On the second day of racing last year, 5-year-old gelding King Mufasa made a triumphant return and won a state fair championship, just 13 months after nearly dying. While traveling, the trailer the horse was clipped by a tractor-trailer in a rainstorm. King Mufasa was cut from the wreckage and spent 44 days in intensive care.

So what stories will unfold when harness racing takes the track the 2016 Illinois State Fair?

Races are scheduled for Aug. 12, 13, 16 and 17 on the one-mile track at the Grandstand. Post time is noon.

Eliminations for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds in the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes Championships are scheduled for Aug. 12. The Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes Aged Divisions and Illinois Department of Agriculture State Fair Races will be contested Aug. 13. The Illinois Topline Races and Illinois Department of Agriculture State Fair Races are Aug. 16. The final day of racing will culminate with Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes Championships and Illinois Department of Agriculture races.

This year’s meet will not include The Grand Circuit Review Stakes, which typically draws horses throughout the United States to Springfield. It was canceled due to uncertain state funding and few nominated horses.

By Marcia Martinez

Reprinted with permission of The State Jornal-Register