For nearly 200 years horse race tracks in Illinois have been operating in the Chicagoland area, with the first popping up as early as the 1830s. Peaking in the 1930s with as many as six tracks, Illinois has long embraced horse racing and continues to today.
Let’s dive into the horse race tracks in Illinois operating today, and how you can get in on the action from home or at the track.
Residents and visitors to Illinois have a couple of options for getting down on the horse racing action in the state. There are 2 horse race tracks in Illinois still operational: Fairmount Park & Hawthorne Race Course.
The Arlington Park race track in Illinois is permanently closed and demolition began in late May 2023. Located in the Arlington Heights suburb of Chicago, originally called Arlington International Racecourse when it was opened in October 1927. In 1981, it was the location of the first thoroughbred race with a $1 million dollar purse at the International Festival of Racing which included the Beverly D. Stakes, Secretariat Stakes, and Arlington Million Stakes.
Featuring a one-mile track and one-eighth dirt oval track, Arlington Park race track also featured a one-mile turf track. At its peak, the race track could stable over 2,000 horses, with a seating capacity of 35,000 in addition to 12,00 clubhouse seats. As a pioneer of North American horse racing, Arlington Park was the first track in the country to have a public-address system to broadcast races to horse racing fans.
In 2000, Churchill Downs Inc. purchased Arlington Park Race Track, operating it for 21 years before holding its final race in September 2021. Shortly after, it was announced the Chicago Bears would purchase the property for $197 million, with future potential plans to build a new NFL stadium.
In May 2023, demolition officially began, completed in September 2023 as future plans for the site are still being considered.
At both Fairmount Park and Hawthorne Race Track, you can bet on horses in person right at the track. Both horse racing tracks in Illinois offer customers a great experience, from horse racing betting to sportsbook options. If it is your first time betting at horse race tracks in Illinois, here is what to expect in the process.
Usually located right next to the horse racing track, you will see the ticket counter where horse race track staff are taking wagers. Typically, it will be next to a big electronic board with the races posted and the odds next to each horse. For a small fee, you can purchase a booklet from the staff at the counter which will show the horses' racing history.
Located on the televisions next to the ticket counter, you’ll see the upcoming races and their post times. The post time indicates what time each of the races will start.
For each race posted, there will be odds listed next to each horse. As an example, if you see a “2” next to a horse, that indicates that the horse is 2 to 1 (i.e. bet $1 win $2) to win the race. A 7/2 next to a horse, means that the race is 3.5 to win the race.
Now that you have your race and horse picked out, it’s time to decide which kind of bet you are going to place. Here are a few of the options available:
Yes, you can bet off-track in Illinois. Off-track betting (OTB) is legal in Illinois, and there are several OTB locations in Illinois where you can place wagers on horse races. These facilities offer a way for individuals to bet on horse races without having to be present at the racetrack.
Yes, you can bet on sports at horse race tracks in Illinois. Both Fairmount Park and Hawthorne Race Course have their own retail sportsbooks in partnership with online sports betting sites in Illinois.
PointsBet partnered with Hawthorne Race Course, significantly impacting the betting industry in Illinois. Their retail sportsbook, launched in September 2020, offers a closely integrated experience with the PointsBet application.
The facility features 60 HD TVs and 20 betting booths, making it a prime destination for sports betting enthusiasts.
FanDuel's sportsbook at Fairmount Park provides a state-of-the-art betting environment with a wide array of options for major sporting events globally.
The sportsbook is known for its user-friendly interface, quick processing times, and covers a comprehensive range of sports, including NFL, NBA, soccer, tennis, and more.
While all ages can visit horse racing tracks in Illinois, you must be 18 years or older to bet on horse races in the state.
Washington Park Race Track was the first horse race track to open in Illinois in 1884, shutting down for good in 1977.
Yes, you can bet on online races held at Illinois horse race tracks at one of the many Illinois online horse racing betting sites . Just like retail horse racing in the state, you only need to be 18 years of age or older to bet online on horse races.
