by Neil MilbertPari-mutuel racing opportunities for harness horses in Illinois continued to shrink when the Illinois Racing Board drafted the 2026 schedule on Thursday (Sept. 18). Then, the harness horses will move out of Hawthorne and the thoroughbreds will move in. Fairmount is limited to thoroughbred racing after ceasing harness racing in 1998. “If we hadn’t stepped in there would be no harness racing in Illinois this year,” Hawthorne president Tim Carey told the board. “We’re looking to reduce overlap and maximize the 1,300 [thoroughbred] horses we have in Illinois.”Block said, “October will be our best month.