Fairmount Park is carrying substantial momentum into its next season after a 2026 meet that delivered sharper participation, stronger purses and a broader footprint for racing in Collinsville, Illinois. The track's official announcement also outlined an ambitious 2027 plan: a longer calendar, a new paddock and first-of-their-kind facility replacements in the racing office and jockeys' quarters. Fairmount Park Casino and Racing's release said the 2026 season set records across several categories.
The season's leading performers were Alexander Bendezu and Scott Becker. Bendezu finished as jockey champion with 76 victories and $1,315,904 in earnings, while Becker led the trainer standings with 67 wins and $1,361,400. Their partnership also supplied a fitting final-day snapshot: Bendezu guided Dandy Ruby to victory for Becker in the 1 1/8-mile finale on Oct. 27, according to the available race results. Bendezu's year-end rider profile lists the Fairmount Park finale among his recent mounts, while Fairmount Park's results page records the Dandy Ruby-Becker-Bendezu result.
The depth behind the leading names mattered, too. Johanis Aranguren, a Venezuelan-born female rider who has become a popular presence at the track, recorded 50 wins, and local youngster Brody Martinez finished with 31. Those totals point to a colony that is not simply dependent on one dominant rider. Bendezu's numbers were particularly efficient at the home course: his profile shows 21 wins from 72 Fairmount Park rides in the period covered, a 36.84 percent strike rate, an indication of how strongly he converted opportunities on the circuit. Racing365's rider data provides the course-specific breakdown.
Fairmount's growth was visible beyond the leaderboard. Compared with 2025, the track reported 18 percent more horses, 30 additional races, nearly 19,000 more spectators and a 37 percent increase in purse money. General manager Brian Jenkins said the track would continue investing in infrastructure and purses to attract talent from around the region, an approach that should help preserve field size and competitiveness as the Illinois circuit develops. Improvements already completed include an inner rail, clubhouse kitchen, winner's circle, restroom upgrades and expanded food-and-beverage options. The official season announcement detailed the investment program.
The 2027 meet will run from April 6 through Nov. 23, extending the racing window beyond the 2026 campaign. Live racing is scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, along with the first Saturday of each month, beginning with May 1. The Illinois Racing Board approved those dates Sept. 16, according to subsequent reporting, giving horsemen a defined target for planning winter campaigns and spring arrivals. Gambling.com's report confirmed the approved calendar and the longer-season structure.
For horseplayers, the practical question is whether the facility work and increased purses translate into deeper, more reliable fields. A new paddock and jockeys' quarters should improve the daily experience for participants, while the expanded racing office represents a rare administrative upgrade for a track with a long history. If Fairmount can retain its leading connections and convert the 2026 attendance and horse-supply gains into consistent 2027 wagering opportunities, the track's next season may prove that this was not merely a strong local meet, but the beginning of a more durable resurgence.