8/30/1980 The Hambletonian, DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin, IL

 41 years ago today...

August 30, 1980 - DuQuoin, IL

Harness racing's marquee event, The Hambletonian, was run for the final time at the DuQuoin State Fair before moving to The Meadowlands in New Jersey next year.

This was the 55th running of the Hambletonian and the 24th and final edition to be held in DuQuoin. Losing the prestigious event to the east coast was a blow to the small southern Illinois town and the day's events had a melancholy feel and wistful tone.

I was sports editor of the Daily Egyptian, the Southern Illinois University newspaper, and was issued one of 120 trackside press credentials to cover the race. In a post-race notes column, I noted the race was televised by NBC last season, but downgraded to cable-only coverage and a later replay over local channels. The cable network that picked it up was the new Entertainment Sports Programming Network. In 1983, cable TV had so little penetration and awareness that ESPN needed to be spelled out in the newspaper. Reporters from the New York Times and Chicago Tribune also covered the final running here.

After the race I ran into country singer/songwriter Mac Davis near the track. He was the grandstand entertainment later that evening and was just checking out the trotters. He had just made his acting debut in "North Dallas Forty" which was hot then and upped his spotlight even more. I couldn't stick around for his show but he autographed his picture in the fair's daily newsletter.