The days are getting shorter and so is the racing season, so it looks like a good time to look back at 2015. Obviously the big news was American Pharoah ending a thirty seven year drought, to win the triple crown.
California: Another blow to Southern California, as Fairplex Park, formally known as the Pomona Fair will do away with live racing, after 90 years plus. Fairplex's loss will be Los Alamos gain.
Idaho: After making a miraculous return Les Bois Park is out of business again, the track cancelled the 2016 season when lawmakers declared instant horse racing terminals illegal.
Illinois: Racing dates have been announced for 2016 and Maywood and Balmoral Park are not in the mix. Rumor is that the Balmoral site will be a Walmart Distribution center. Harness racing will return to Hawthorne, as well as the thoroughbreds. Arlington and Fairmont Parks will host thoroughbred racing.
Kansas: There has been some movement to reopen the Woodlands, pending approval of slot machines. Probably a long shot.
Kentucky: Thunder Ridge has run it's last harness race, not that anyone was watching. Word is that Keeneland is planning to build a quarter horse track and betting parlor with instant racing terminals .
Maine: Scarborough Downs continues to play for family and friends. You can bet online but you can't watch, just a matter of time.
Massachusetts: Plainridge survived it's referendum and opened it's racino, keeping harness racing alive in the state. On the thoroughbred front there was a lot of bluster early in the year about returning the thoroughbreds back to Suffolk, and returning racing to the Brocton Fairgrounds. When the smoke cleared Suffolk Downs, hosted three live days of racing, nothing materialized at Brocton. For 2016 Suffolk has asked for two days and Brocton which holds two agricultural licenses is looking for 30 days.
Michigan: Jackson Raceway did not return in 2015. Hazel Park had to shorten it's season when it ran out of purse money. Northville Park was the only standardbred venue left in the state. Both Hazel and Northville have received dates for 2016. At one point there were nine tracks in the state.
Nevada: The Winnemucca mules did not race this year.
New Hampshire: Thinking they had their best shot at passing a gaming bill, it was soundly defeated again, this will probably be the kiss of death for Rockingham Park. In the southwest corner of the state Hinsdale returned to the pari-mutual fold with the opening of an OTB site. The license there states that a harness track must be built in three years. The clock is ticking.
North Dakota: North Dakota Horse Park did not have a live race meet.
Ohio: Everyone of Ohio's seven tracks were either rebuilt or relocated as racinos.
West Virginia: For the second year in a row Mountaineer Park has not finished out it's allocated dates. It's parent company MTR Gaming has merged with a Nevada based csaino.