Balmoral Park Racetrack

Balmoral Park racetrack was a historic one-mile horse racing facility in Crete, Illinois, located along Route 394 (Calumet Expressway S.) and Route 1 (Dixie Highway), approximately 38 miles from Chicago's Loop. Known for its exciting harness racing action, the track hosted competitions year-round and attracted racing enthusiasts from across the Midwest.

Since 1991, Balmoral Park had operated exclusively as a harness racing venue, after periodically hosting thoroughbred race meets throughout its long history. The one-mile track, added in 1989, featured speed ratings of 1:58½. The home stretch measured 1,360 feet long and 80 feet wide, accommodating 10 starters behind the gate.

The grandstand held 8,281 spectators, while the clubhouse accommodated 2,000. Parking was available for up to 15,000 vehicles. The racetrack's record handle reached $2,817,966 on September 16, 2000, while its largest attendance was recorded on February 4, 1990, when 11,494 fans attended the races.

History of Balmoral Park Racetrack

Balmoral Park's roots date back to 1925 when Col. Matt J. Winn, manager of Churchill Downs, and his associates at the Kentucky Jockey Club purchased 1,050 acres just south of Crete, Illinois, to build a new track named Lincoln Fields. The oval track was surrounded by Kentucky bluegrass imported from Kentucky, featured red Spanish tile roofs on the buildings, and included spring-fed lakes in the infield.

Lincoln Fields operated as a busy thoroughbred racing venue from 1926 until 1942, when it closed due to World War II restrictions. Between 1942 and 1953, race meetings were relocated to Hawthorne and Washington Park. The track reopened in 1954, resuming thoroughbred racing.

In 1955, Benjamin Lindheimer, head of horse racing at Washington Park since 1935 and Arlington Park since 1940, established the Balmoral Jockey Club, which purchased Lincoln Fields and renamed it Balmoral Park racetrack. Balmoral's thoroughbred meetings continued at Washington Park from 1955 to 1963. In 1967, Balmoral's track was converted to a half-mile course for harness racing.

Over the years, Balmoral Park became primarily a harness racing venue, although thoroughbred racing was held intermittently. The one-mile track addition in 1989 improved racing conditions, and by 1991, Balmoral Park became exclusively a harness racing facility after the Illinois Racing Board removed its thoroughbred dates.

After nearly a century of horse racing history, Balmoral Park racetrack permanently closed for live racing on December 26, 2015, marking the end of an era in Crete, Illinois. The facility later reopened as an equestrian and horse show venue but no longer hosted competitive horse racing.

Harness Racing Stakes Held at Balmoral Park

Balmoral Park regularly hosted prominent harness racing stakes that drew competitors from across Illinois and the Midwest. Notable series included:

• Crete Trotting Series
• Champion On Ice Trotting Series
• The Big Dog Pacing Series
• Plesac Trotting Series
• Pacific Racing Series
• Columbian Trot
• American-Nationals
• Hanover Stakes
• Midwest Derby
• Fairy Godmother

These events cemented Balmoral Park's reputation as a premier venue for harness racing, leaving a legacy in Illinois racing history.

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