Thursday, Jul. 09, 2009

And down the stretch they come at Fairmount Park

COLLINSVILLE -- Fairmount Park is the metro-east's home for exciting thoroughbred racing.

The 1-mile oval track, located at 9301 Collinsville Road near the confluence of Interstate 55/70, hosts live racing at 1 p.m. each Tuesday and at 7:30 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. The 75-day season, which ends Sept. 26, will have a special Labor Day card at 1 p.m. Sept. 7.

Many familiar attractions are back at Fairmount Park.

The hugely popular "Party at the Park" is held each Friday. For $11, fans receive a gourmet appetizer buffet from the black Stallion Room, drink specials and live music. Gates open at 6 p.m. Fans must be 21 to enter the Black Stallion Room for the party. No reservations are necessary.

"Horse Hookey Tuesdays" are held at 1 p.m. each Tuesday. Admission to the park is $1.50. Twelve-ounce draft beers are priced at $1.50, while 12-ounce soft drinks are 75 cents and hot dogs are $1.

As in past years, a wonderful dining experience is available at the Top of the Turf, the Black Stallion Room and the First Turn Cafe.

Top of the Turf, located on the third floor of the clubhouse, is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. The special each Friday is an 8-ounce steak with fried shrimp and a baked potato for $13.

Seating in the Top of the Turf are luxury boxes and include television sets and a tremendous view of the racing action. The racetrack is not visible from the lounge or cafe, although there are plenty of television monitors.

The Black Stallion Room is on the second floor of the clubhouse. A Tuesday buffet, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., costs $13. It includes a soup and appetizer table, the chef's entree of beef, chicken or seafood, signature side dishes, baked bread, a baked potato, a dessert table and unlimited refills of coffee, iced tea and soda.

The Black Stallion Room also is available for a deluxe buffet each Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. Cost is $18 for adults, $9 for kids 12 and under.

As in past years, Fairmount Park is connected via satellite to other tracks in the United States, which enables patrons to wager on races from Aqueduct in New York City, legendary Churchill Downs in Lousville, Ky., Santa Anita in Los Angeles, Hialeah in Miami and Sportsman's Park and Arlington International in Chicago.

For more information, call Fairmount Park at 345-4300. Check the News-Democrat for the daily results, or visit the track's Web site at www.fairmountpark.com.