Horse racing tracks inIllinois

The Prairie State

Illinois has 4 horse racing tracks in this directory (2 thoroughbred and 2 harness). The oldest is Hawthorne Race Course, opened in 1891.

4Tracks2Thoroughbred2Harness1891Oldest
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Thoroughbred tracks2

  1. ThoroughbredFairmount Park Casino & Racing — St. Louis Derby (Collinsville)opened 1925SiteMapThoroughbred
  2. ThoroughbredHawthorne Race Course — Illinois Derby (Stickney)opened 1891SiteMapThoroughbred and harness

Harness tracks2

  1. HarnessDu Quoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack — Illinois Colt Stakes (Du Quoin)opened 1946 · cap 7,522SiteMapHarness
  2. HarnessIllinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack — Illinois Colt Stakes (Springfield)SiteMapHarness

Closed tracks in Illinois8

Racetracks that no longer hold live racing. Been to one? Add it to your count.

  1. Arlington ParkArlington Heights, IllinoisToday: Owned by Chicago Bears; grandstand demolished 2025, site undeveloped
    Thoroughbred1927–2021Hosted the Arlington Million (1981), the world's first million-dollar Thoroughbred race
    Map
  2. Aurora DownsAurora, IllinoisToday: Valley Green Golf Course and industrial park
    ThoroughbredHarness1922–1981Site of the first powered airplane flight in Illinois (Wright exhibition, 1910)
    Map
  3. Balmoral Park (Lincoln Fields)Crete, IllinoisToday: Closed; used briefly for horse shows, later listed for sale
    ThoroughbredHarness1926–2015Whirlaway won his first career race here in 1940
    Map
  4. Cahokia DownsAlorton, Illinois
    ThoroughbredHarness1954–1979David Gall became the first U.S. jockey to win eight races on one card here (1978)
    Map
  5. Maywood ParkMelrose Park, IllinoisToday: Amazon distribution center
    Harness1946–2015Hosted the first full harness racing program televised in the U.S. (1947)
    Map
  6. Quad City DownsEast Moline, IllinoisToday: Partly a school and FedEx terminal; OTB closed 2015
    Harness1973–1993
    Map
  7. Sportsman's ParkCicero, IllinoisToday: Wirtz Beverage distribution center and Walmart
    ThoroughbredHarness1932–2002Shared its oval with the Chicago Motor Speedway auto track from 1999
    Map
  8. Washington Park Race TrackHomewood, IllinoisToday: Commercial and residential development
    ThoroughbredHarness1926–1977Site of the 1955 Nashua vs. Swaps match race, won by Nashua
    Map

Illinois racetrack questions

How many horse racing tracks are in Illinois?

Illinois has 4 horse racing tracks in this directory (2 thoroughbred and 2 harness).

What is the oldest racetrack in Illinois?

Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney opened in 1891.

How do I find the closest horse racing track to me?

Enter your ZIP or postal code or city in Find Closest Tracks to see the 15 nearest, or browse the track map. Tap I’ve been here to track every racetrack you’ve visited in your Track Count.