June 11, 2023 – Harness racing returned to the Macon County Fair again this year for a time-honored tradition that organizers hope will continue for years to come.
The Macon County Fair hosted 3-Year Old Filly’s & Colts & IHHA 3-year & Up races on Wednesday and Big 10 standardbred harness races on Saturday.
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait, usually pulling a two-wheeled cart occupied by a driver. The first harness racing tracks were opened in the mid-1800s, but harness racing events could be found as early as 1825 at county fairs all around the country. And by the mid-20th century, harness racing was one the fastest-growing sport in America.
At the Macon County Fair, the tradition goes back to nearly the beginning with a five-year hiatus that began in 2013. When the races returned in 2019, organizers hopes they could bring the tradition back to it’s former glory.
Evan Hall, President of the Macon County Fair Board and Speed Superintendent said the races hold a special place in his heart. “This is something really special to me. I grew up on this track and showed livestock as a kid, but I worked as a volunteer at the harness races growing up and fell in love with the sport.”
Hall added that the races give spectators something they may not see otherwise. “These races give the people in our community a chance to see live horse racing action for free and we take a lot of pride in that. We have excellent horsemen and all of the horses are foaled here in Illinois. It’s a great race card and really good racing action.”
One of those experiencing the races for the first time was Thomas Bowman. “I wanted to come out and see what all of this was about,” Bowman said. “I know the fair has been trying to bring Harness racing back and make this a big event again. This is probably the first time I have been out to the fair in probably 25 years. It’s been a really nice event.
The Macon County Fair concludes on Sunday.
Check out the photo gallery of the harness races below!
