UNION COUNTY FAIR UNDER WAY

ANNA, Ill. -- Harness and mule racing will get under way at the Union County Fair here Wednesday.

Illinois, once the home of the famed Hambletonian harness race, held annual at the DuQuoin, Ill., State Fair, is one of the few states where harness racing is a booming sport.

Three days of harness racing will be held at the 120th annual Union County event. Horses that compete on the Illinois county fair circuit -- where betting is not allowed -- must be conceived and foaled in Illinois.

It's a fun sport, said a Union County fair official. Racing will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Union County track.

The Union County Fair kicked off last weekend. A pet parade was the feature event Sunday, and a fair queen contest was held Monday night.

Tonight's grandstand event will be a championship rodeo, featuring bareback bronc riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, girls barrel racing, calf roping and bull riding.

Other grandstand events this week include the Wednesday night tractor pull, Thursday horse show and demolition derbies Friday and Saturday nights.

The tractor pull will feature farm class, modified and superstock in various weight classes.

Rides, food, entertainment and a wide range of exhibits are scheduled for the run of the fair.

The first fair was established at Anna for the 1880 season, as the Anna Fair. It later became the Union County Fair and has been held at the same site 120 years, missing only the 1954 season, when the county held its Centennial Celebration, an event that ranks as one of the biggest events in Union County history.

The fair resumed in 1955.

UNION COUNTY FAIR EVENTS

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1 p.m. Exhibit judging,

1 p.m. Draft horse show.

1 p.m. Livestock judging.

3 p.m. Exhibition building open.

3 p.m. 4-H livestock show.

7:30 p.m. Championship Rodeo.

Wednesday

9 a.m. Junior swine and sheep judging.

1 p.m. Junior beef judging.

1 p.m. Exhibition building opens.

3 p.m. Harness and mule racing.

7 p.m. Tractor pull.

Thursday

1 p.m. Junior livestock auction.

1 p.m. Exhibition building open.

3 p.m. Harness racing and mule racing.

7 p.m. Horse show.

Friday

9 a.m. Exhibit pickups.

3 p.m. Harness and mule racing.

8 p.m. Local Demolition Derby.

Saturday

3 p.m. Lawn mower racing.

8 p.m. Open Demolition Derby.