Horse racing has been popular in Illinois since the middle of the 19th century. The first harness track in Chicago was built in 1840 on the south side, and from there many tracks dotted the city, especially on the south and west sides. Though a gambling ban in the early 1900s slowed horse racing for a while, it didn't quash it completely, as a rogue meet at Hawthorne in 1916 proved.
Betting was allowed again in 1922, and Illinois horse racing flourished. Hawthorne reopened for good, and other tracks like Maywood, Washington Park, and Aurora either reopened or reestablished. Lincoln Fields, which became Balmoral Park, as well as Arlington Park, were newly established in the 1920s. Sportsman's Park opened in 1932, a new horse track converted from a dog track in Cicero, right across the street from Hawthorne.
Although all of the Chicago-area tracks except for Hawthorne are now history, Hawthorne continues to host live Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing into 2025. Fairmount Park, on the Illinois side of St. Louis, opened in 1925 and remains in business. It was purchased by new owners in 2024 and celebrates its centennial in 2025. There is still live horse racing most of the year in the state, and still an excited community of horsemen and racing fans alike who enjoy going to the races and having a few bets!
If you want to be part of the Illinois horse racing action, keep reading to find out the best places to place your OTB wagers in the Land of Lincoln!
OTB Illinois Betting Sites
If you are betting horse racing in Illinois, online racebooks are a secure way to do it as conveniently as possible. Be a part of the action from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, and bet horse races anywhere with an internet connection! Online racebooks also help you maximize your bankroll with bonuses, rebates, and promotions to suit every betting style.
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Illinois Race Tracks
There are two horse tracks left in the state of Illinois: Hawthorne Race Course and Fairmount Park.
Hawthorne Race Course opened in 1891, and was purchased by Thomas Carey in 1909. The Carey family still owns Hawthorne to this day. Through its history it has shifted between hosting Thoroughbred races, harness races, and both. Since harness tracks Maywood Park and Balmoral closed in 2015 Hawthorne has hosted both types of racing, and after the closure of Arlington Park in 2021, it is the only horse racing track remaining in the Chicago area. Now it typically runs a Thoroughbred meet from early spring through mid-fall, with harness racing through the rest of the fall and the winter.
Fairmount Park is located in Collinsville, Illinois, a suburb of St. Louis. It opened in 1925, and throughout its history it has hosted both Thoroughbred and harness racing. However, it has only hosted Thoroughbreds in the 21st century. The Fairmount meet runs from mid-spring through mid-fall, including night racing on Saturday as well as the popular Horse Hooky Tuesday afternoon cards.
Illinois Horse Races
Hawthorne's most prestigious Thoroughbred races include the $200,000 Illinois Derby and the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby. Though neither are graded anymore, they both used to hold graded status. The Illinois Derby is a 1 1/8-mile dirt race in late April, and horses can use it as a prep for either the Preakness Stakes or for other summertime goals. The Hawthorne Derby, typically run in early October, is a 1 1/8-mile turf race for three-year-old horses.
On the harness side, it's all about Night of Champions, a series of races in every division: 2-year-olds and older, trot and pace, open company and fillies and mares. Typically hosted in November, there are races through summer and fall both at the Springfield fair and Hawthorne to qualify for the finals on Night of Champions.
At Fairmount, the richest race of the year is the St. Louis Derby for three-year-olds. A 1 1/16 mile trip over the dirt, the $250,000 purse makes it the richest race in Illinois, and it draws horses from all over the country to race under the lights.
Off Track Betting in Illinois
Under the rules of the Illinois Racing Board, off track betting parlors have to be associated with existing racetracks in Illinois. Hawthorne operates 13 off-track betting bars around the state in addition to the racetrack facility. Several of the OTB locations, as well as the Hawthorne racetrack itself, also offer a sportsbook. Fairmount also offers three OTBs around southern Illinois, as well as simulcast wagering and sports betting at Fairmount Park itself.