Geography Dept.Mendota, Illinois is located in the North-Central region of LaSalle county and is 85 miles west of Chicago. The Fairgrounds are on the outskirts of the Southeast corner of the city. GPS coordinates for the Fairgrounds are: 41° 32' 35" N, 89° 06' 25" W.Picture Gallery.Racing Results.
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History Dept.The Mendota Driving Park came into existence in 1873 as racing continued there until 1882. Racing ceased for a few years until the Union Agricultural Fair was born and harness races were held until 1906. The picture gets a little murky as fair associations came and went, one source stating that the fairgrounds were closed after 1906 until 1915. But we have photographic evidence below that races were held in 1911 and 1912. We have race results from 1887, 1898, 1899, and 1912. The last known year of harness racing here was 2008. |