The Illinois State Fair Grandstand is rolling out the red carpet for harness racing to usher in this year's County Fairs and Horse Racing Day, with the starting gates set to open on Thursday, August 8. A statement on an Illinois government website touts the event as not just any trot around the track; the fair's dirt course is pegging itself as one of the globe's quickest, a one-mile speedway welcoming horses conceived or born within Illinois borders. If that's not enough to whet your whistle for equine endeavors, the IDOA Director Jerry Costello II amps it up with a proud proclamation, "We are proud to showcase harness racing at the Illinois State Fair," and a warm invitation for first-timers to witness "these exciting event."
According to illinois.gov, the fair's harness races are divided into two tempo-tapping sessions, the early birds can catch the first race at 11 a.m., meanwhile, sunset chasers can mark their calendars for the 5 p.m. post time; let's not forget the free t-shirts awaiting the first 200 visitors, a gesture from the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association that suggests if you snooze, you do indeed lose. Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark injected her enthusiasm into the mix, stating "There's no better way to watch horse racing than on one of the world's fastest tracks," sweetening the proposition with an offer that's hard to refuse: free admission for all fairgoers wanting to catch the harness racing action.
The fair's splendor isn't strapped to the sulkies alone; it stretches beyond to offer more goodies for the early crowd, with consecutive days flaunting free plush horses, kids' coloring kits, and not one but two days dripping with free Prairie Farms ice cream—each giveaway attached to the first 200 enthusiasts.
And for those who favor the combustion roar over the hooves rumble, the remainder of the Grandstand's diary shines with the USAC Silver Crown Series and the ARCA Super Series Racing, both promising to fill the need for speed your heart presumably craves. All of this ruckus, the horses, the melodies, and the torque-fueled battles are framed within the fair's dates, from August 8 through August 18, as detailed by illinois.gov.
