Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: Aug. 3, 2018
Illinois racetracks have applied for a schedule of racing dates in 2019 that is similar to that of this year.
The Illinois Racing Board recently released the requests, which include days in which tracks want to serve as the statewide simulcast host.
Arlington Park requested 71 live racing days from April 29-Sept. 30, though it will be dark April 29-May 2 and Sept. 22-30. It would primarily race three days a week through June, and then expand to four days a week for the most part.
Hawthorne Race Course requested 52 live racing dates from March 6-April 28 and Oct. 1-Dec. 31. There would be no live racing March 6-14 and Oct. 1-9.
Racing will be held two days a week through early April and three days for the remainder of the spring meet. In the fall, racing will be held three days a week in October and November and two days a week in December.
Fairmount Park near St. Louis, Mo., as usual requested 150 days but will offer much less racing. The track’s opening and closing days aren’t not yet set.
Hawthorne, the only Illinois track left with an extended Standardbred meet, requested 71 live racing programs from May 3-Sept. 22. It did not request a winter harness meet, which means the Thoroughbred meet can start earlier in the year.
(Arlington Park photo courtesy of ITHA)