Horse racing has continuously evolved over the years and comes back bigger each year. In the past months, the sports betting industry has faced a considerable decline since most sporting events were sent to indefinite suspension due to the Coronavirus outbreak. However, horse racing remains steadfast, and the U.S. Triple Crown races are about to start this June.
Aside from the Triple Crown races, we are also expecting many racecourses to open once more and host notable horse racing shows. Chicago is one of the states in America that opens many legendary horse racing fields to celebrate horse race competitions annually. In fact, the betting in this area has been legalized for a very long time now.
Thus, as an esteemed horse racing fan and sports bettor, the racecourses you can find in Chicago can surely give you excellent horse racing showdown and its associated odds. If you
are planning to take part in horse racing games apart from the Triple Crown races, here are the most famous race tracks you can find in Chicago.
Arlington International Racecourse
Formerly known as the Arlington Park, this racecourse is owned and managed by Churchill Downs Incorporated. It is the same organization that manages the Kentucky Derby, which is considered the largest horse racing event in the United States. Arlington Park lies at Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Moreover, this racecourse has opened its doors to all fans and bettors since October 13, 1927. The whole racing field can accommodate 35,000 seating capacity, which includes 12,000 clubhouses seats. Every year, Arlington Park hosts a flat-thoroughbred racing game which is saddled up on either Polytrack or Turf surface.
The horse racing games held at Arlington Park usually take place from May until September. Some of the racing events happening in the Grade 1 Stakes include Arlington Million, Beverly D. Stakes, and Secretariat Stakes.
Grade 2 Stakes, on the other hand, consists of the American Derby, Arlington Handicap, Arlington Classic Stakes, Arlington Matron Stakes, Chicago Handicap, Hanshin Cup Stakes, Modesty Handicap, and Pucker Up Stakes.
Hawthorne Racecourse
Hawthorne racecourse is considered as one of the oldest family-owned racing fields operating inside North America. Unlike some of the most famous horse racing fields, this site is owned and managed by the Carey Family. It lies at Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, which had successfully opened its gate to all horse racing aficionados since 1891.
The Hawthorne racecourse went through a lot of trades to different families and individual businessmen before the Carey Family got it in 1909. Aside from that, it had undergone a lot of renovations to ensure huge crowd capacity. Today, Hawthorne racecourse is one of the most famous horse racing facilities in Chicago that holds annual thoroughbred racing activities.
Some of the most notable races held in this field include the Grade 3 Hawthorne Gold Cup. They also hold an annual Grade 3 Illinois Derby and Hawthorne Derby. All of these racing games happen on the dirt track, and only allows three-year-old colts to compete.
Balmoral Park
The Balmoral Park has recently reopened its doors to some horse racing enthusiasts within the Chicago state. This equestrian facility was inaugurated on August 9, 1926, and was closed last December 26, 2015, due to owner Tony Mauriello passing away. In 2017, HITS Incorporated acquired the said facility and reopened the racetracks to the public once more.
The said racecourse is located at Crete Township, Will County, Illinois. It holds an annual standardbred horse racing show. The whole horse racing facility can accommodate at least 71,000 audiences. The backstretch can hold at least 900 horses and gives you the best view of the horses before they compete.
Some of the leading horse racing events that happen in Balmoral Park include the American National. Apart from that, Orange and Blue, Filly Orange and Blue, and Pete Langley Memorial are some notable races happening in this racecourse.
Horse Race Betting In Chicago
Chicago has recently joined the roster of states where sports and horse race betting became legal. From now on, the state can conduct horse racing games with associated betting games. In fact, online bookies, at the same time, can now generate odds in various horse racing games and create wagering categories where every bettor can gamble.
Takeaway
Horse racing is considered one of the most celebrated sports in the United States, especially in Chicago. Aside from the horses, the fans look forward to the betting games it offers. Now that the Triple Crown is back on track, the racing games in some of Chicago’s most popular racecourse might also begin. Therefore, make sure you join in on the fun of seeing horses offering an action-packed racing show with the massive betting games providing opportunities that can help you earn substantially.
