Richest Race Day Ever at an Illinois County Fair
The Brown County Fair will host two days of harness racing Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th at 2:00 p.m.
The Brown County Fair has hosted harness racing since the current half-mile track was laid out in 1878.
The local track has quite a history having held the richest Illinois County Fair race ever, $25,000 in 2009. In addition, the Fair has the fastest track record of any fair in Illinois, 151.1 by “I Can Only Imagine” driven by Brandon Simpson and trained by Tom Harmer, also in 2009. Pari-mutuel racing was held for 15 years before COVID and a reduced horse population, and hopefully will return in the future. Brown County is the only Illinois County Fair to have had legalized betting on its races.
This year there will be no shortage of horses for the races Saturday and Sunday of the fair. For the second year the Downstate Classic for 2- year-olds will take place on Sunday, and 160 horses were nominated with a $150 payment on April 15. Sunday will be the richest single day of harness racing ever held at an Illinois County Fair track with over $100,000 estimated to be paid out.
The best 2-year-olds that Illinois has to offer along with the top drivers and trainers will compete for the big purses in the final preparation before the Illinois State Fair.
The fair will have a “Pick the Winner” drawing for $25 after each race and $1,000 will be given away each day to those in attendance through random drawings.
Chosen by the United States Trotting Association as a Blue Ribbon Fair, the local track continues to make history. Come out and enjoy top- notch racing with a good chance to walk away with some cash!
Track Records
Trot:
1:58.3 – Battleshoe Victor (2009)
Driven by Sam Widger
Trained by Tom Harmer
Owned by Michael E. Polansky, Loudonville, NY
1:58.3 – Speed N The Tunnel (2009)
Driven by Sam Widger
Trained by Brett Wilfong
Owned by Brett H. Wilfong, Donovan, IL & Lynn G. Wilfong, Kentland, IN
Pace:
1:51.1 – I Can Only Imagine (2009)
Driven by Brandon Simpson
Trained by Tom Harmer
Owned by Michael E. Polansky, Loudonville, NY
(Illinois’ Fastest County Fair Track Record)