CARROLTON, Illinois – Harness racing returns on June 1st this year and promises to feature a great schedule of races when Standardbred horses from around the state compete at the Greene County fairgrounds in Carrolton. The Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association (IHHA) wants you to come out this summer and see the competition for yourself. 27 County Fairs are slated to host racing this year.
“There’s nothing like a horserace,” said IHHA President Marty Engel. “It’s a real thrill, especially when you see how much everyone is working to compete and put on the show.”
Horse racing is a labor-intensive sport with each animal employing roughly five people. A strong racing industry is good for Illinois’ agricultural economy supporting breeding farms, trainers, blacksmiths, grooms and more.
Illinois has a long and storied history of harness racing going all of the way back to the days when farmers would race on country lanes after Sunday church. It has been remarked that Honest Abe himself was fond of watching horse races. For many years, Illinois hosted the prestigious Hambletonian at the DuQuoin State Fair.
However, as states around Illinois supported horse racing and boosted purses with racinos in the 1990’s and 2000’s, the Prairie State did not keep pace and many people in the horse racing industry moved to more lucrative horse racing states like Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
New legislation passed in 2019, promising larger purses and a new Illinois racetrack, have boosted interest in the sport in Illinois. The IHHA encourages Standardbred breeders to bet on Illinois and breed their horses here.
Illinois Standardbred horse owners bred more horses last year than any time in the last decade with 534 foals registered in 2021. The low point was 2017 when only 144 foals were registered. At its peak, over 2,500 foals were registered in Illinois.
“It’s a great time to get into the sport and it’s a great time to be an Illinois breeder,” said IHHA board member Ed Teefey.
Teefey hosts the Illini Classic Sale, one of the largest Standardbred horse sales in Illinois. “As more people come back to Illinois to race, the quality of the horses goes up, the purses go up, the racing becomes more competitive and more people can work in the industry,” said Teefey. “We’ve seen a lot of interest in breeding, buying, and racing in Illinois in the last few years.”
The Illini Classic Sale will be held on September 5th this year and the Land of Lincoln Standardbred sale will be held on August 15th. Both sales are expected to do well.
“It’s a great sport and it’s great family fun at the County Fairs,” said Engel. “I hope everyone comes out to enjoy the races.”
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