HORSEPLOP.COM
General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: captaintreacherous on July 18, 2026, 09:52:04 AM
-
If you mean Sportsman’s Park in Cicero, Illinois, the horse-racing track was essentially closed because the business had become financially troubled and the owners pursued a major redevelopment.
1999: The old Sportsman’s Park grandstand and infield were demolished and replaced by the Chicago Motor Speedway, while horse racing continued at the site.
The new motorsports venture struggled financially and suspended operations in 2002.
Horse racing itself eventually ended at the facility as the property was redeveloped; the site is now associated with Hawthorne Race Course's redevelopment plans rather than the old Sportsman’s Park operation
-
I've been to quite a few harness tracks in my day and Sportsman's park had the brightest lights on the track I've ever seen.