James Okafor
Fairmount Park Casino and Racing in Collinsville, Illinois, will kick off its 2027 season with a new paddock, jockeys' quarters and racing office — and a longer schedule than before.
Owner Accel Entertainment unveiled the plans on November 10, 2026, on the back of what the track is calling a record-setting 2026 season.
The 2027 meet runs from April 6 to November 23. Live racing is set for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus the first Saturday of every month.
That first Saturday card lands on May 1. The Illinois Racing Board signed off on the dates on September 16, 2026.
For Illinois visitors, the project builds on a venue that already pairs a racetrack with a casino floor.
What Is Being Built
Accel said the new paddock, jockeys' quarters and racing office will all be ready for next season.
General manager Brian Jenkins said the track has not had a new racing office or jockeys' quarters in decades.
"We're investing heavily in the track, and we plan to continue to upgrade Fairmount Park in all aspects," Jenkins said. "We are enhancing the facility for our guests, fans, and athletes, continuing our commitment to our rich history."
The work builds on upgrades completed over the past year. Accel lists those as a new inner rail, a clubhouse kitchen, a winner's circle, restroom improvements and new food and beverage options.
A Record 2026 Season
The 2026 meet opened in April and wrapped on October 27. Against 2025, Fairmount Park ran 18% more horses, put on 30 additional races and drew nearly 19,000 more spectators. Purses grew 37%.
More than 6,000 people turned out for the St. Louis Derby, which Accel called one of the most successful Derby Days in the facility's recent history.
On several days, the track had more horses running than any other in the country — a sign of bigger fields and richer purses over the past couple of years.
"We set several records this season, and it was a very successful year from start to finish," Jenkins said.
The Racing Board's Approval
The Illinois Racing Board voted 6-0 to approve 73 live thoroughbred programs for Fairmount Park in 2027, each with at least seven races a day. That is 16 more days of racing than in 2026, according to the board.
Two other 2027 date applications, from Hawthorne Race Course and Suburban Downs, were rejected as deficient.
Executive Director Domenic DiCera said Illinois racing faces a "difficult landscape with the closing of Hawthorne" but that he is optimistic heading into 2027.
The board's release does not name any other thoroughbred meet for 2027.
The Casino Side
Fairmount Park also runs a casino. Illinois Gaming Board figures show $2.3 million in adjusted gross receipts for October 2026, up from $1.5 million a year earlier.
The board's data puts the casino at 9,640 square feet this October, compared with 7,216 square feet in October 2025.
The venue's public data comes from the Illinois Gaming Board's monthly reports.
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