Balmoral Park Racetrack is a one-mile horse track in Crete, Illinois that offers year-round harness racing. It is located along route 394, the Calumet Expressway S., or route 1, Dixie Highway, about 38 miles from Chicago's loop.

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Interesting Track Facts About
Balmoral Park Racetrack

p>Balmoral Park has exclusively been a harness racing track since 1991 after periodically hosting thoroughbred race meets throughout most of its history. The one-mile track was added in 1989. It has speed ratings of 1:581. The length of the stretch is 1,360' while the width is 80'. There are 10 starters behind the gate.

The grandstand has a capacity of 8,281 while the clubhouse has a capacity of 2,000. The parking capacity is 15,000 vehicles.

Its record handle was $2,817,966, achieved on 16 September 2000. The largest attendance ever recorded at Balmoral Park was on 4 February 1990 when 11,494 people showed up for the races.

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History of Balmoral Park Racetrack

In 1925, Col. Matt J. Winn, manager of Churchill Downs, and his business associates at the Kentucky Jockey Club bought 1,050 acres of land just south of Crete, Illinois and built a new track named "Lincoln Fields". The large oval was surrounded by Kentucky bluegrass which Winn imported from Kentucky. Red Spanish tile was used as roofs on the buildings and spring-fed lakes were built in the infield.

Lincoln Fields became a busy thoroughbred racing facility from 1926 until 1942 when it was shut down due to World War II restrictions. From that year up to 1953, race meetings were moved to Hawthorne and nearby Washington Park. Lincoln Fields sprang back to life in 1954 when thoroughbred racing commenced.

In 1955, Benjamin Lindheimer, head of horse racing at Washington Park since 1935 and Arlington Park since 1940, put together the Balmoral Jockey Club which purchased Lincoln Fields. The name of the racetrack was changed to Balmoral Park. Balmoral's thoroughbred meetings were run at Washington Park from 1955-1963. Balmoral Park's thoroughbred track was converted to a half-mile track for harness racing in 1967.

It has since then been primarily a harness racing venue, with thoroughbred racing being held intermittently throughout the years. The one-mile track was added in 1989. Balmoral Park finally became exclusively a harness racing facility in 1991 after the Illinois Racing Board took away its thoroughbred dates.

Balmoral Park Racetrack closed at the end of 2015 after years of financial troubles and the Illinois Racing Board's decision to shift its 2016 racing dates to Hawthorne Racecourse. Along with its sister track, Maywood Park, Balmoral was ultimately overwhelmed by mounting debt and bankruptcy issues, bringing nearly a century of Illinois harness racing history to a close. However, the property found new life in 2017 when it reopened as a multi-use equestrian center dedicated to horse shows and events, ensuring the site's legacy continued even without live racing or wagering.

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Balmoral Park Records

PACERS
One Mile Distance
Date	Horse Name	Driver	Age/Breed	Time
07/28/2002	Yankee Cruiser	Dean Magee	2-year-old colt	1:51
09/08/2007	Westside Gritty	Jason Dillander	2-year-old filly	1:52
10/05/1997	Ohyouprettything	J. Anderson	2-year-old filly	1:52
09/09/2006	Home Bed Advantage	Ryan Anderson	2-year-old gelding	1:50
09/25/2004	Quick Pulse Mindale	A. Morgan	3-year-old colt	1:48
09/08/2007	Sportsfancy	Ryan Anderson	3-year-old filly	1:50
09/09/2006	Thisbigdogwillfight	Brent Holland	3-year-old pacer	1:49
08/12/2006	Lis Mara	Andy Miller	4-year-old pacer	1:48
06/09/2007	Gro	Da. Magee	4-year-old mare	1:50
07/03/2003	Parklan Powerful	R. Marsh	4-year-old mare	1:50
05/17/2001	Giggles the Clown	Da. Magee	4-year-old mare	1:50
08/26/2006	AllAmerican Inca	G. Brennan	4-year-old gelding	1:48
09/09/2004	Parklane Powerful	Ron Marsh	Aged mare pacer	1:49
08/19/2006	Holborn Hanover	G. Brennan	Aged gelding pacer	1:48

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TROTTERS
One Mile Distance
Date	Horse Name	Driver	Age/Breed	Time
10/19/2003	Kennans Max	J. Dillander	2-year-old gelding	1:57
10/10/2006	Vapor Maker	B. Holland	2-year-old gelding	1:57
09/09/2007	Muscle Mass	B. Holland	2-year-old colt	1:56
09/18/2007	Creamy Mimi	A. Miller	2-year-old filly	1:56
08/28/1999	Self Possessed	M. Lachance	3-year-old colt	1:53
08/26/2000	Armbro Temple	A. Kerwood	3-year-old filly	1:54
11/20/2007	Before He Cheats	Br. Simpson	3-year-old gelding	1:53
08/09/2001	Anklet Hanover	E. Ledford	4-year-old mare	1:52
08/19/2006	Med Vac	S. Widger	4-year-old gelding	1:53
11/06/2004	Mr Muscleman	J. Campbell	4-year-old gelding	1:53
06/12/2007	Yankee Monaco	Da. Magee	Aged mare	1:53
10/21/2000	Magician	D. Miller	Aged gelding	1:53

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Top 5 Winningest Drivers in Balmoral Park

1. Dave Magee - Widely regarded as the most successful driver ever to compete at Balmoral Park, Dave Magee recorded nearly 12,000 career victories and earned more than $100 million in purses. A dominant force for decades, he led the nation in wins in 1994 and reached the 10,000-win milestone in 2005. His long-standing excellence made him the defining figure of Balmoral's driving colony.
2. Tony Morgan - A powerhouse on the Illinois and Chicago harness-racing circuit, Tony Morgan consistently ranked among the top drivers during Balmoral's peak years. Known for his remarkable career longevity and massive win totals, Morgan carved out a reputation as one of the sport's most accomplished and reliable performers.
3. Mike Oosting - He was one of Balmoral Park's most decorated drivers, highlighted by an incredible run of six consecutive driving titles from 2005 to 2010. Trusted by trainers and respected across the industry, he remained among the track's leading reinsmen all the way through its final years of operation.
4. Casey Leonard - Casey Leonard was a steady, high-achieving presence at Balmoral, regularly appearing among the track's leaders in wins, starts, and purse earnings. His consistency and strong win percentages made him a prominent figure in Balmoral's later era, earning widespread respect throughout the Illinois harness-racing community.
5. Todd Warren - Todd Warren rounded out the list of top performers with a strong body of work supported by solid win totals and regular appearances near the top of Balmoral's driver-stat sheets. His success at the track reflected both skill and longevity, contributing significantly to the competitive depth of the Balmoral driver roster.

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Most Successful Trainers at Balmoral Park

1. Nelson Willis - With 85 wins from 520 starts and a 16.3%-win rate, Nelson Willis established himself as one of the most dominant trainers in Balmoral Park's history. A multiple-time leader at the track, he consistently produced top-performing horses, earning recognition for his skill, strategy, and longevity. Willis was a key figure in Illinois harness racing during the later years of Balmoral's operation, contributing significantly to the track's competitive reputation.
2. William Crone - Achieving 60 wins from 408 starts with a 14.7%-win rate, William Crone was known for his remarkable consistency and high activity on the Balmoral circuit. His ability to maintain strong performances across numerous races earned him substantial purses and a respected reputation among fellow trainers and competitors alike.
3. Robert Phillips - Over a career spanning hundreds of races, Robert Phillips secured 59 wins from 599 starts, recording a 9.9%-win rate. Renowned for his longevity and dependable results, Phillips balanced high race volume with consistent performance, making him one of Balmoral Park's most reliable and enduring trainers.
4. James Ellison - James Ellison posted 45 wins from 289 starts, achieving a 15.6%-win rate. Known for his efficiency and strategic approach, Ellison frequently placed among the top trainers at Balmoral, consistently producing competitive horses and making the most of every race opportunity.
5. Roger Welch - Achieving 38 wins from 195 starts with an impressive 19.5%-win rate, Roger Welch excelled through quality rather than quantity. Despite fewer starts compared to some peers, his high win percentage and ability to prepare winning horses made him one of the most respected trainers in Balmoral Park history.

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