In 1939 Hayes started buying adjoining strip-mined land to develop its potential as parkland, replanting it and turning the strip pits into family-friendly ponds and lakes.

In the second race on October 10, popular AAA National driving champion Ted Horn was killed in the fourth turn when a spindle on his championship car broke.

In 1957 the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds became the third longtime home of the Hambletonian, America's premier harness racing event (established 1926).

When the Hambletonian left DuQuoin after 1980 to be raced at the Meadowlands, the Fair became the home of the World Trotting Derby.

The stage is at center at the foot of the grandstand, backed up against the protective cyclone fence that shields the stands from the track.