Since it opened in 1927, Arlington International Racecourse has served as the premier horse track in Illinois. But now, the track’s owner Churchill Downs plans to sell it to the Chicago Bears.
If that deal goes through, Chicagoland will be left with just one horse track, Hawthorne Racecourse in Stickney. While it appears that horse racing is a dying sport, some are placing big bets on its survival.
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Horse Racing Tracks Competing with Casinos
For a long time, horse and greyhound racing were the only legal outlets for gamblers. But over the years, all sorts of gambling, from online casinos to sports betting, are being legalized across the country. This has drained away from the customer base for many racetracks.
In some states, such as New Jersey, racetracks have added a casino and a sportsbook to boost business. But up until 2019, Illinois lawmakers blocked that from happening in the state.
But, legislation passed in 2019, the state’s racetracks can now add a casino and a sportsbook on its existing property. Hawthorne Racecourse has initiated a $400 million redevelopment plan that includes an onsite casino.
The racetrack plans to use the profits from the casino to offer larger purses to attract more bettors and more horses. The new casino could be the key to helping Hawthorne survive and hopefully, thrive.
Balmoral Park Near Crete Plans Its Difficult Comeback
The racetrack near the suburb of Crete has been closed since 2015. The Marko Dobrasinovic family purchased Balmoral at that time.
New York-based Horse Shows in the Sun, purchased Balmoral in 2016 for just $1.6 million. The group made extensive renovations to convert the track to accommodate horse jumping events. The first jumping events took place in 2017.
The 200-acre Balmoral Park went up for sale once again in 2020 for $4 million. Now, the new owners are planning to reopen it to racing, as well as adding a casino.
However, before that can happen, the new owners need to cut through bureaucratic red tape to obtain the necessary licenses.
However, there are substantial obstacles to bringing gambling back to Balmoral Park. These include legislation that only permits a horse track and casino combination to operate in six southern Cook County towns. Balmoral Park is in Wills County, which means an amendment to the legislation is needed. Also, the 2016 sales prohibit any gambling, both on horse racing and casino gambling, on the site until 2026.
Tony Somone, executive director of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, feels that while he would love to race at Balmoral again, it’s not a good place for a casino and that the obstacles facing anyone trying to bring the track back are massive.
Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville is Now FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing
Despite the rumors that Balmoral Park is making a comeback, Hawthorne Racecourse and Fairmount Park, renamed FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, are the only two horse tracks taking bets in Illinois. Fairmount Park is just across the border from the St. Louis metropolitan area. The track not only takes bets on horse races but also hosts a FanDuel sportsbook to take bets on all sports.
There are big plans for FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing; the racetrack facilities are badly in need of an upgrade. FanDuel plans to work with the track’s owner, William Stiritz and Associates to fund major upgrades.
Also as part of the partnership agreement, FanDuel plans a relaunch of St. Louis Derby, with a $250,000 purse for the winner. The St. Louis Derby hasn’t taken place at the track since 2006.
The track has also submitted a request with the Illinois Gaming Board to add slot machines and casino games. However, that could take more than a year to come to fruition.
The Future of Horse Racing in Illinois is Uncertain
With the closure of Arlington Park and the restrictions placed on Balmoral Park, the future of horse racing in Illinois looks bleak. So much so, the Senate Gaming Committee met recently to discuss plans to move the industry forward.
The president of Hawthorne Race Course, Tim Carey, told the committee that his track will need to be modified between seasons to suit both harness and Thoroughbred racing. While inconvenient and costly, Carey noted that accommodating both styles of racing are important to the future of racing in Illinois.
The committee looked into legislative solutions, such as allowing for more racetracks in the state, and allowing the racetracks to hold off-track betting licenses and operate casino gaming.
The partnership between FanDuel and Fairmount Park in Collinsville will host 61 thoroughbred races in 2022, up from 53 in 2021. The sportsbook should also increase both revenue and attendance at the Collinsville racetrack.
