Transforming Fairmount Park: Exciting Changes Ahead for Historic Horse Track

ST. LOUIS — Fairmount Park, the horse-racing track described as 99 years old in the 2024 announcement in Collinsville, was the subject of Accel Entertainment’s 2024 acquisition announcement, with consideration valued at approximately $35 million. This deal marks a significant transformation for the historic site.

Acquisition and Investment Plans

Accel Entertainment, known for its expertise in gaming and entertainment, announced plans in 2024 to establish a casino at Fairmount Park. A casino opened there in April 2025. In that announcement, CEO Andy Rubenstein described plans for three or four restaurants, live music, and other entertainment events. A future hotel is also under consideration.

“What we’re looking to do is bring a level of entertainment to the Metro East that hasn’t been there,” said Rubenstein. “It’s really a project that we think can be transformational.”

Economic Impact

The introduction of the casino and entertainment facilities is expected to boost the local economy. Rubenstein predicts that higher purses and improved race quality will attract more visitors, creating jobs and stimulating local businesses.

At the time of the 2024 announcement, the proposed sale price included 3.45 million Accel shares and was subject to regulatory approval. The later casino opening shows that this proposed timeline should be read as historical reporting.

Historical Significance and Future Prospects

Fairmount Park has long been a significant cultural landmark. Efforts will be made to preserve its historical aspects while enhancing its facilities. The new developments aim to revitalize the park, providing a modern entertainment venue that maintains its legacy.

Accel plans to invest between $85 million and $95 million in the site, including infrastructure upgrades. The 2024 plan called for a temporary casino in 2025 and a larger permanent site in 2027. The casino opened in April 2025; the later construction details remain projections unless confirmed by the operator.

Conclusion

The sale and redevelopment of Fairmount Park represent a major transformation for the historic horse-racing track. With the introduction of a casino, restaurants, and live entertainment, the park is set to become a premier destination in the Metro East area. The eventual impact depends on completed facilities, the racing programme, attendance and operating results; investment plans alone cannot guarantee an economic outcome.

What Fairmount’s Transformation Means for Regional Racing

The sale and planned transformation of Fairmount Park is part of a broader pattern playing out across American horse racing, where older regional tracks face difficult choices about their futures. Rising costs, changing entertainment preferences, and increased competition from online wagering have made the traditional racetrack business model challenging to sustain. For some tracks, reinvention through entertainment diversification is the most viable path forward.

For the local racing community — trainers, jockeys, grooms, and the businesses that depend on the track — the transition brings uncertainty alongside opportunity. The published 2026 racing calendar confirms a continuing racing component, which matters to participants who depend on the regional circuit. Future changes should be assessed against an announced calendar and confirmed operating decisions, rather than treating a casino opening as evidence that horse racing has ended.

Historical Significance of Fairmount Park

Fairmount Park’s history, approaching a century at the time of the announcement, makes it one of the older surviving racetracks in the Midwest. Over nearly a century it has hosted thousands of racing programs and served as a proving ground for horses and jockeys who went on to compete at higher levels. The track holds a special place in the memories of generations of local fans who grew up attending races there. Whatever form its future takes, that legacy is worth acknowledging as the property enters its next chapter. Racing fans interested in the history of American tracks can explore more in our article on New York horse race track history, which traces similar stories of evolution and adaptation in the sport’s oldest venues.

Separate completed changes from future plans

The company’s original announcement and track racing page answer different questions. One documents transaction plans; the other helps visitors check live racing.