ANNA, Ill. -- It's not the Winnemucca Futurity in Nebraska or the Red Bluff Roundup in Red Bluff, Calif., but the mules will be off-and-running here next week.

Mule racing provides thrills and excitement at mule tracks in Nebraska and California, but the Union County Fair racetrack at Anna is the only location for mule racing in Illinois.

"We're the only fair in the state to host mule racing," said Raymond Moreland, fair secretary. "We have both types of mule racing here -- saddle racing and cart racing."

The fair starts this weekend, and the mule racing starts Wednesday. Harness racing is also an attraction.

Racing events start at 3 p.m. next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Most Illinois fairs hold harness races, a booming sport in the state that once was home to the famed Hambletonian Harness Race at the Du Quoin State Fair.

No betting is permitted at the Union County event.

Fair opens Sunday

The Union County Fair officially begins at 3 p.m. Sunday with a pet parade and gospel music at 7 p.m. But the entry registration fair office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and a junior horse show will be held at the Horse Arena at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The first grandstand event will be held Monday -- the Union County Fair Queen Pageant -- at 8 p.m. A national baton twirling champion, Christy Stallings, of Johnston City, Ill., will perform between pageant activities.

Grandstand events next week include a championship rodeo, featuring bareback bronc riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, girls barrel racing, calf roping and bull riding kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; a tractor pull at 7 p.m. Wednesday; a horse show at 7 p.m. Thursday; and demolition derbies Friday and Saturday.

The Friday demolition derby is for local drivers only. The Saturday derby is open to all drivers.

Rides, entertainment, livestock judging and exhibits are scheduled.

The fair is in its 121st year at the same site. The first fair was established at Anna for the 1880 season, as the Anna Fair. It later became the Union County Fair.

Union County Fair Schedule

Saturday

9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.- Entry Registration Fair Office open.

1:00 p.m.- Junior Horse Show, Horse Arena

Sunday

3:00 p.m.- Pet Parade

7:00 p.m. - Gospel Sing and Community Worship service.

Monday

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.- Entry Registration Fair Office

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.- Junior Livestock Registration

3:00 p.m.- Junior Tractor Operator's Contest- infield

5:00 p.m.- Weigh-in of Sale Cattle

7:00 p.m.- Junior Exhibitor Meeting

8:00 p.m.- Queen Pageant, with demonstration by baton twirling champion Christy Stallings between activities.

Tuesday

8:00 a.m.- Open Class, Livestock and Exhibit Judging.

10:00 a.m.- Mule Show.

1:00 p.m.- Draft Horse Show

1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.- Exhibition Building Open

3:00 p.m.- 4-H Livestock Show

7:30 p.m.- Championship Rodeo

Wednesday

9:00 a.m.- Junior Swine and Sheep Judging

1:00 p.m.- Junior Livestock Beef Judging

1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.- Exhibition Building Open

3:00 p.m.- Harness Racing and Mule Racing

7:00 p.m.- Tractor Pull

Thursday

All veteran's showing veterans' organization membership cards or wearing veterans' organization cap will be admitted free.

1:00 p.m.- Junior Livestock Auction

1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.- Exhibition Building Open

3:00 p.m.- Harness Racing and Mule Racing

7:00 p.m.- Horse Show

Friday

9:00 a.m.- Exhibitor checks available

3:00 p.m.- Harness racing and mule racing

8:00 p.m.- Demolition Derby (Local Only)

Saturday

8:00 p.m.- Demolition Derby (Open)

All Day- Discount rides