Fairmount Park Casino & Racing Marks 100 Years With Celebration and $250K St. Louis Derby

Fairmount Park Casino & Racing will honor a century of racing and entertainment this September with a three-day community celebration. The Collinsville venue, now owned by Accel Entertainment, has planned giveaways, live entertainment, and the return of the St. Louis Derby—the richest horse race in Illinois.

Good to Know

• 100th anniversary celebration runs Sept. 18–20, 2025.
• St. Louis Derby on Sept. 19 offers a $250,000 purse.
• Venue acquired by Accel Entertainment in 2024 for $35M.

Three Days of Events

The festivities begin on September 18 with a giveaway for cardholders, who can choose between a commemorative hat or t-shirt while supplies last.

On September 19, the spotlight turns to the fifth annual St. Louis Derby, which carries a $250,000 purse. Following the race, Fairmount Park will host $10,000 in cash giveaways for player’s card members.

The celebration wraps up on September 20 with family activities including face painting, jugglers, magicians, and oversized lawn games like cornhole and connect four.

Fairmount Park 100th Anniversary Schedule

• Sept. 18 Free hat or t-shirt giveaway for cardholders
• Sept. 19 St. Louis Derby ($250,000 purse) + $10,000 cash giveaways
• Sept. 20 Family activities: magicians, jugglers, lawn games

Honoring a Century of Racing

Vince Gabbert, SVP of U.S. Gaming and GM at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing, said:

“This milestone is about more than just racing; it’s about honoring the generations of fans, horsemen, and team members who have made Fairmount Park what it is today. We’re excited to welcome the community to join in the celebration, and we look forward to the next hundred years of racing and entertainment here at Fairmount Park.”

When Fairmount Park first opened its gates in 1925, it quickly became a cornerstone of Illinois horse racing. Over the decades, the venue weathered changing laws, the rise of casinos, and shifts in the entertainment landscape while maintaining its identity as a racetrack rooted in community tradition.

• 1920s–1940s: Established as one of the Midwest’s premier racing destinations.
• 1960s–1980s: Expanded facilities to accommodate larger crowds and modern racing infrastructure.
• 1990s–2000s: Entered the simulcast and off-track betting era, keeping pace with national wagering trends.
• 2020s: Transitioned into a casino-racetrack hybrid with FanDuel sportsbook integration.

The addition of the St. Louis Derby in recent years reinvigorated the track’s racing calendar, turning it into a marquee Illinois horse racing event. Now, the centennial milestone ties the track’s storied past with its future ambitions under Accel Entertainment.

Ownership and Growth

The anniversary arrives less than a year after Accel Entertainment finalized its $35 million acquisition of Fairmount Holdings, which included the FanDuel Sportsbook at the racetrack.

Fairmount Park also introduced property-wide enhancements during a soft opening on April 18, 2025, giving guests a first look at updated casino amenities.