The 2023 Illinois Horse of the Year makes this season’s first start in his home state Friday at Du Quoin. (Patricia Fryman Photography).

By Mike Paradise for the IHHA

 Hawthorne’s Downstate meeting continues this week however the scheduled racing days have been altered and if more rain arrives more changes will occur.

 Not surprisingly, Wednesday’s scheduled Du Quoin program has been washed away by rain, and instead has moved to Friday. As of this morning, Thursday’s card is a “go” but the fact that both Springfield and Du Quoin are strictly dirt tracks and more rain is expected, getting any races conducted this week is dicey, at best.

 If Friday’s card does get raced at the scenic southern Illinois facility at Du Quoin, it certainly didn’t come up short on talent as far as Prairie state bred horses are concerned.

  Back after being sidelined for the last 3 and 1/2 months is the 2023 Illinois Harness Horse of the Year Goomster, will make his first start in his home state this year for owner Dennis Gardner and trainer Desiree Seekman, wife of the talented trotter’s regular driver Travis Seekman.

 The Cassis gelding had a spectacular year as a 3-year-old with Travis Seekman at his lines, winning16 of 21 starts, mostly in ICF sophomore stakes, and earning over $158,000 for his West Salem, Illinois owner.

 “Goomster was in to go last week but rain kept us from racing,” said Travis. “The horse was sore earlier, and we wanted to give him plenty of time off and have him ready to go for his march towards Super Night. If his qualifier is any indicator, I think he’s ready.

  Goomster qualified in 1:59 flat with a 28 last quarter, taking the lead with a first quarter mile move.

  “We wanted to go three quarters all on 30 and let him go from there” Goomster got to the half in 59 and strolled to a 32 second third quarter. “It’s not often a qualifier goes the way you want, but this one pretty much did,” added Travis.

 Awaiting Goomster in Friday’s seventh race are a pair of former ICF division champions, Talk About Valor (Bob Smolin) and Lousdobb (Casey Leonard).

  Returning to Illinois for the first time since his sensational 1:47.4 mile last month is the Amy Husted stable’s Fox Valley Landen (Kyle Husted), equaling the all-time record for a state-bred pacer. The 4-year-old son of Somestarsomewhere finished fourth last week in a $30,000 Open at Hoosier Park. Today he races for just $5,500 in a multiple conditioned event.

  Fox Valley Landen takes on four other “Fox Valley’s”—Steeler, Ozzy, Jasper and Cayman,” along with Bay Brute and Luckychris.

 Flacco Family Farms’ Lous Private Eye (Casey Leonard) looks to avenge his loss to Tru Cash in the fifth race trot after the Ev Miller trainee held him off from the two-slot while last year’s 3-year-old male ICF titleholder had a much tougher trip from the 10-hole second tier.

 Robert Silberberg’s Perlucky (Casey Leonard), from the Jim Eaton stable, a winner of almost $110,000 last year, returns after being off since mid-May in the second race initial Open Trot. The now 9-year-old Lucky Chucky gelding, qualified two weeks ago at Springfield two lengths behind Goomster, finishing in 28.1.

 The eighth race, the second $8,000 Open Trot, lured the Grummel family’s Marvelous Mystery (post 4), winner of both of this year’s aged ICF trotting State Fair championships. The 4-year-old daughter of Lou’s Legacy will be out to make amends after breaking stride on the lead in the stretch two weeks ago while racing against “the boys” in Springfield and failed to get a purse check for the time this season

 Starting inside of Marvelous Mystery are Tucked Away (Jordan Patton), Reign And Shine (Freddie Patton Jr.), and La Lotita (Matt Avenatti). Loulita (Casey Leonard) drew the outside five slot.

 Plenty of Precipitation: With two consecutive years of races at the Illinois State Fairs at Springfield rained out, and many others this year and last, you might be wondering how often it rains in the state capitol.

  The National Weather Service says it is an average of 22 days in July, 20 in August and 16 in September. However, besides those rainy days knocking out any chance to race, the all-dirt base drains very poorly, and that usually means the day after a rain-out is a “no-go” as well.