Geography Dept.Carthage is the county seat of Hancock County located in far western Illinois. GPS coordinates of the trotting track are: 40° 25' 03.5" N, 91° 09' 06.3" W.It has been a challenge finding the location of the Carthage trotting track. But a review of the maps below shows that the staff here at The ITC has nailed it!Picture Gallery.Racing Results.
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History Dept.The Hancock County Journal-Pilot notes that the county fair started in 1914 or 1915, but this contradicts both maps from 1859 and 1898 which show the county fair grounds, albeit, in two different locations. The beginning of racing here at Carthage predates 1898 according to the fire insurance map to the lower left. Just how far back it goes is unknown but, we have produced race results from 1887 through 1920. The last known year of harness racing at this venue has been lost to history as well, for now. We have evidence that Carthage claimed August 27th-30th for racing dates in 1929 and the fair eventually moved to Augusta.Memory Lane.Story Headline.There is something doing at the old fair grounds this week, but there will be more doing the week of August 20 - September 2 than there has ever been before. Secretary E. Cox has been busy several weeks lining everything up for the big event and he has succeeded very, very well. The money subscribed and recently paid in by farmers has been used in the erection of a new sale and exhibit pavilion and a new art exhibit hall and every stockholder may justly be proud of the support he is giving so successful an institution. The building has a seating capacity of 700, and contains 36 cattle stalls and two preparation rooms which if divided and used for stalls would give a total of 40. The dimension of the sales ring are 25x50 feet. The building is one of the finest of its time in this section of the county and the business conducted therein will profit directly or indirectly every farmer in Hancock County. We should have a purebred sire on every farm. The first sale in this pavilion will be the Poland China Breeders’ association sale, August 11. In addition to the livestock sale and exhibition pavilion the management has erected a new exhibit hall 100x100 feet in the form of a cross. This building will take care of all school and art exhibits, domestic science and agricultural exhibits. This leaves the space beneath the amphitheater for other purposes. Of this room some has been appropriated for additional amphitheater ticket sale space, some for a ladies’ rest room and some for refreshment stands. The new 96 foot addition to the amphitheater will provide much additional seating capacity which the public will no doubt appreciate. Arrangements have ben made to reserve a large section of the amphitheater in which seats can be purchased in advance. Through this arrangement people from a distance have an opportunity to get into the amphitheater the same as citizens of Carthage. A charge of 15 cents additional is made for these seats to cover expense of handling tickets, ushers, etc. The charge for the balance of the amphitheater will remain at 25 cents, the same as heretofore. The price of admission tickets remains the same as heretofore, 50c for single admission and $1.50 for season tickets. There is not charge at the gate or amphitheater for the night show. The grounds are ideal for a fair. There is an abundance of shade and an inexhaustible supply of pure water. Mr. Kunkel has set his fences back and given additional space for concessions and exhibit tents.-- Source: Hancock County Journal, Thursday, August 11, 1921: The 1921 Hancock County FairRacing Results.
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