UNION COUNTY FAIR FEATURES HORSES, MULES

ANNA, Ill. -- Ron Knupp is looking for some mule racers.

"We still have room for entries in the mule races today, Thursday and Friday," said Knupp, who helps arrange harness, mule and pony races at the Union County Fair being held this week at the fairgrounds in Anna.

"Anyone interested in placing a mule in the races may contact me at the fair office or just show up before race time at the fairgrounds each day," said Knupp.

Mule racing at the fair is conducted in one of two ways: harness racing or saddle riding.

The racing program starts at 3 p.m. with trotter and pacer horses.

Mule and pony racing will be interspersed with the harness racing schedule during the afternoon's card. The big draw is the harness race schedule, which includes heats from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Harness racing includes two classes -- pacers and trotters -- with each heat taking about two minutes.

"We have a fast track here," said Knupp. "Heat races will run from about a minute, 58 seconds to two minutes and four seconds."

The Union County Fair attracts a large field of harness racers from a four to five-state area, including Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi.

"Harness racing is a popular sport in Illinois," said Knupp. The World Trotting Derby is held each year at the Du Quoin, Ill., State Fair.

Southern Illinois harness-racing fans at one time had the opportunity to view the premier event of all harness racing, the Hambletonian, which was presented at Du Quoin from 1957 to 1981. It then was moved to the Meadowlands track in New Jersey.

The annual Hambletonian Stakes, the most famous of harness racing, is named for a race horse born almost a century and a half ago. Hambletonian was born in 1849. He was a great harness-racing horse and sired more than 1,300 horses before he died in 1876. The Hambletonian Stakes have been in existence more than 70 years.

Harness racing is conducted on oval tracks ranging in distance from a half-mile to a mile.

The Union County Fairgrounds track is a half-mile oval, but racers circle it twice for a one-mile race.

"The mule races are limited to one lap, and pony races are limited to a quarter-mile," said Knupp.

Harness racing attracts large crowds at the fair. Horses pull a light, two-wheeled sulky and driver in the races.

Many races are held at major race tracks throughout the U.S., where people bet on horses. Other harness racing is conducted at county fairs, where betting is forbidden.

Illinois is one of the few states in the country where harness racing is still a booming sport at state fairs. Harness racing creates 35,000 to 40,000 jobs in Illinois.

The Union County Fair continues through Saturday. It features rides, food, entertainment and a wide range of exhibits.

Grandstand events include a tractor pull tonight, horse show Thursday, and Demolition Derbies Friday and Saturday nights.

Additional fair information is available by calling (618) 833-6311.