Horses stand idle and clowns call it quits as the coronavirus cancels Illinois rodeos. ‘This is the first time ever that we won’t have a rodeo.'

Rodeos around Illinois are being canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The events, often held as nonprofit benefits or moneymakers for county fairs, can draw thousands. Without them, the grandstands are dark, and that financial punch in the gut reaches far beyond the county fairs that so often play host.