From the Belleville News-Democrat:
"A prominent Collinsville family has closed McClaskey Feed Co. after 100 years in business, but one of the owners hopes a court-appointed trustee will allow it to reopen.
The company operated on Fairmont Avenue, next to Fairmount Park race track, and provided horse feed to customers throughout the region."
From the Belleville News-Democrat:
"Fairmount plans to have 41 live racing dates in 2018 between May 1 and Sept. 22, the same amount as it did in 2017. It’s the lowest number of race days the track has ever had.
However, when the track submitted its racing date plan to the Illinois Racing Board, it said it would have to reduce it to 19 racing dates if it wasn’t allowed to have another revenue stream, such as casino-style gaming."
From the ITHA:
"Despite fewer horses running than the year before, more money was bet on Arlington races during 2017 than in 2016 – appreciably more, and by all statistical measures."
Hawthorne News Release:
Anthony Granitz trainee My Bariley upsets Hawthorne Derby run on a "soft" turf course with a $29 win.
From Harnesslink:
"For someone with nearly 12,000 race wins and over $100 million in earnings, that statement would have to be spot-on, no? Not for Dave Magee, whose highly successful harness racing driving career on the Chicagoland circuit has now seen him transition to an associate judge at Indiana's Hoosier Park, a position enhanced by the fact that Magee had a nearly four-decade career in the bike."
ITHA News item:
"The Illinois Racing Board on Tuesday approved a 2018 racing schedule that tracks closely with the racing dates awarded in 2017.
The IRB approved 71 live race programs at Arlington Park next year and 55 live race programs at Hawthorne Race Course."
From the ITHA website:
"Thanks to a somewhat better than anticipated meet this summer, Arlington is implementing two initiatives of interest to horsemen:
1) The track is adding seven more overnight stakes races, each with a purse of $65,000. The first two of these races - to be run Saturday, Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 4, respectively - are closing Sunday, Aug. 27. For other closing dates, race conditions and more information, please call Meagan Simpson at the Arlington race office at
...From the DuQuoin Call:
"It will be without the hoopla and excitement of the Hambletonian from many years ago or even the more recent World Trotting Derby, but the Du Quoin State Fair's brief two-day harness racing schedule next week will definitely not be without stimulating moments.
The daytime events, scheduled to start at noon both Tuesday and Wednesday on the fair's famed "Magic Mile" track, will again offer part-mutuel betting windows for those taking advantage of the free admission
...Thanks to the Daily Herald:
Story from the Chicago Tribune:
Beach Patrol, Dacita give owner Sol Kumin big day at Arlington Million
