Fairmount Park Unveils 2027 Upgrades After Record-Breaking Season

Fairmount Park Casino and Racing has ended its 2026 racing season. Many records were broken during the season, and the track plans to continue its progress in 2027 with new investments.

The track is owned by Accel Entertainment. A new paddock, jockey rooms and a racing office will open next season. The racing calendar is also changing: the season will run from April 6 to November 23, with live racing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on the first Saturday of each month. The first Saturday race day of the year will be May 1.

For the St. Louis Derby, more than 6,000 people filled the track this season. On some days, Fairmount Park raced more horses than other tracks in the country. Compared with last year, the number of horses rose by 18 percent and the number of races was 30 higher. The track welcomed about 19,000 additional spectators, and purses increased by 37 percent.

General Manager Brian Jenkins said that investments will continue every year and that the track's infrastructure and purses will be improved to attract the region's best talent. Over the past year, the inner rail, club kitchen, winners' circle and restrooms were renovated. Alexander Bendezu, one of the season's champions, won the Jockey of the Year award with 76 wins and earnings of $1,315,904. Scott Becker became Trainer of the Year with 67 wins and earnings of $1,361,400. Venezuelan female jockey Johanis Aranguren finished the season with 50 wins, while local young jockey Brody Martinez ended with 31 wins.