No World Trot, But Fair Pays Attention to Horsemen, Wagerers
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Du Quoin's 29-year run as "Home of the World Trotting Derby" has ended with the state's decision to cancel both the 2010 derby and its companion World Trotting Derby Filly Division.
However, not only does the 2010 Du Quoin State Fair have a great race card with the $40,000 Governor's Cup for 2-year-old pacers and $40,000 Darn Safe for trotters, the $40,000 Shawnee for 2-year-old filly trotters, but four $25,000 states to cover the 3-year-old classes, as well.
The fair will also offer pari-mutuel wagering during each of the three days. That work is sponsored by the staff at Maywood Park outside of Chicago, which has managed pari-mutuel wagering at the Magic Mile in the past.
While the World Trotting Derby was a signature event for the fair (the sign above the front gate has not yet come down), there was huge resentment among Illinois harness horsemen that the State of Illinois was doing nothing more than sending $500,000 to $600,000 a year in Derby purses to the eastern, European and Canadian harness establishments. Somehow, saving that money could help to revitalize Illinois' own industry.
Nor is the fair itself going away. The fair and its non-fair events are on the cusp of showing a profit. Fair manager John Rednour Jr. said there is no thought to ending the fair or its non-fair events and campventions. In fact, this is a time to focus on fair itself and capital improvements on the grounds. Millions of dollars roll through the region's dining and hotel & motel industry because of the fair.