Fairmount Park kicks off its 100th anniversary season April 22 with an eight-race card and a brand new casino that only seemed to take 100 years to get into operation.
Opening day has eight races with total purses of $125,000—modest by some standards but encouraging for local horsemen who have suffered through years of decline and disappointment.
Even more encouraging is the temporary casino that opened its doors April 18 with a range of slots and electronic table games for gamblers and the promise of additional purse money for horsemen.
Illinois tracks were authorized to apply for casino gaming licenses through legislative action in 2019, and the entire state racing industry expected a renaissance.
