Aurora Downs
41°47′53.9″N 88°20′03.9″W / 41.798306°N 88.334417°W
Aurora Downs was a historic horse racing facility in North Aurora, Illinois, operating from the late 19th century until 1981. Established in 1891 as the half‑mile Aurora Driving Park, it hosted thoroughbred and harness racing, county fairs, circuses, and even Illinois’s first powered airplane flight on July 4, 1910. Rebuilt in 1922 as a one‑mile track on Exposition Park land, it became home to the Illinois Derby from 1932 to 1938, drawing crowds of over 30,000 spectators at its peak.
After a wartime closure, the Downs reopened in 1946 with a half‑mile oval and continued operations—alternating between horse and auto racing—until a brief rebranding as “Fox Fields” in 1976. Despite multiple reopenings and renovations, financial difficulties and declining attendance led to its permanent closure in 1981. The former site is now occupied by industrial development and a golf course.
History
[edit]The Downs was originally a half-mile track named Aurora Driving Park, located north of Illinois Avenue and west of Lake Street in Aurora. The Park hosted many area events in addition to racing, including circuses, fairs, and the first powered airplane flight in Illinois on July 4, 1910, with an exhibition of the Wright brothers airplane.[1]
In 1922, a new one-mile track was built on the site of the newly constructed Exposition Park in North Aurora and renamed Aurora Downs. The famous Illinois Derby ran there from 1932 through 1938 before suspending the race for 23 years. A local newspaper reported more than 30,000 racing fans crowded the track in the height of the 1937 season. The Downs also hosted auto racing events in addition to horse racing.[2]
The Downs closed during World War II, then added a half-mile oval when it reopened again in 1946. The track closed 1952, and harness racing was shifted to neighboring Maywood Park. In 1955, there were two fires at Aurora Downs in eight days. The track reopened in 1958 after a major renovation, but over time, attendance at the track declined and the track closed and reopened several more times until 1976. At that time, a new owner reopened the facility as Fox Fields with Sunday-only racing, but the track closed permanently in 1981.[3]
Location
[edit]According to maps from the United States Geological Survey,[4] The Aurora Downs and Exposition Park that was founded on February 17, 1922, and boasted the largest swimming pool measuring 320 feet by 160 feet; a race track with grand stand and a golf course. [5] were located just north of the original Aurora Airport, which was south of Airport Road. The Park was built on the north side of Airport Road. The Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad ran a branch line up to Batavia, Illinois. This line ran past Expositon Park and appeared to have sidings, presumably for freight service. According to Current Day Maps and Sattalite Imgery, the area that was once Exposition Park and The Aurora Downs is now grounds for Valley Green Golf Course and an Industrial Park built on Airport Road.
References
[edit]- ^ Aurora boasts storied horse racing past, The Beacon-News February 11, 2011[permanent dead link]
- ^ Auto Racing History at Aurora Downs[permanent dead link]
- ^ N. Aurora Racetrack May Be Demolished
- ^ "US Geological Survey - Map of Aurora North 1950". National Geologic Map Database.
- ^ "The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™ : Exposition (Amusement) Park, Aurora, Illinois (1922-1931)". 23 August 2018.
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