Horse Racing

Empty stands at Fairmount Park on a day without live races on July 17. The park cannot allow spectators for the 2020 season because of restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic.

Spectator-Free Racing Brings Mixed Results For Fairmount Park

Eric Schmid

The coronavirus lockdowns in Illinois came just as Fairmount Park Racetrack was set to start the 2020 horse racing season in March.The racetrack was shuttered until June, when Illinois allowed live horse races to resume at tracks around the state with one caveat: no spectators.

Illinois Raked In More Gambling Tax Money, Despite Casino Decrease

Sam Dunklau

Illinois brought in more tax money from gambling in the fiscal year that ended in June. That’s just one of several highlights from a new report released...

Horses cross the finish line at Fairmount Park Racetrack on July 23. The number of live races at the track will likely increase to 100 because of the gambling expansion bill passed earlier this year.

Economy & Business

Illinois Gambling Expansion Poised To Revive Fairmount Track

Eric Schmid

Fairmount Park Racetrack is filled with spectators on most Tuesdays and Saturdays, eager to watch horses fly down the dirt track.But with just 41 live…

A jockey rides a horse back past the finish line after a race on opening day at Fairmount Park.

Arts

A day at the track: Fairmount Park kicks off horse racing season

Carolina Hidalgo

There were 30 minutes until the first race of the day and the locker room at Fairmount Park Racetrack buzzed with activity. Jockeys flipped through race…

Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon (L) welcomes China's Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong during a state dinner last year. Nixon says Mo. officials expect to finalize billions of dollars of export agreements during an upcoming trip to China.

Morning headlines: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Maria Altman

Nixon to announce details of China tripMissouri Gov. Jay Nixon says state officials expect to finalize billions of dollars of export agreements during an…

Horses race around the track at Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville, Ill.

Quinn opposes slot machines at racetracks

Gov. Pat Quinn says he doesn't support slot machines at Illinois racetracks.Quinn on Monday discussed his objections to a gambling bill passed by…

Horses speed around the track at Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville, Ill.

Language of law keeping money from Ill. horse racing industry

Maria Altman

$2.6 million dollars is waiting to be distributed to Illinois’ horse racing industry but the law’s wording is keeping that from happening.More than a…

Horses race to the finish line at Fairmount Park Racetrack. The Jumbotron shows the action, and its age in the background. About $14 million will go to the racetrack in a recent account release. Some of the money will be used for upgrades and repairs.

Ill. gambling bill still up in the air while horse racing industry gets influx of cash

A decision by lawmakers to approve a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois has been followed by two months of delay as Gov. Pat Quinn studies the…

Although the payday loan industry has come under fire for high interest rates and other business practices, supporters say the operations fill a need for people who might not have easy access to money to help pay bills and cover other expenses.

Morning headlines: Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wording approved for Mo. ballot measure limiting payday loansA group of community and religious leaders is proposing a Missouri ballot measure that would…

A horse and jockey enter the winner’s circle at Fairmount Park Racetrack on a recent Friday night. If Governor Pat Quinn signs a gambling bill approved by Illinois lawmaker, the track could put in slot machines.

Measure to allow slot machines at Ill. racetracks awaits governor's signature

Maria Altman

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-975704.mp3Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and horse tracks used to be the only…