As someone originally from Springfield, I'll be glad to give some recommendations- albeit a few months late.

Darcy's Pint - Wabash Rd and MacArthur Blvd - This place opened about 5 years ago, and took the town by storm with it's white cheese sauce horseshoe that was quickly voted "Best of Springfield" several years in a row. It's highly recommended, and unbelievably busy almost all the time. Waits of ~1 hr are very common. Prices are quite reasonable - $5.95 ponies and $6.95 horses. ****

Dublin Pub - MacArthur Blvd in Town & Country Shopping Center- just down the street from Darcy's, and located where Darcy's used to be. My favorite horseshoe, as the taste is similar to Darcy's, but less crowded and better specials on drinks. Their buffalo chicken ponyshoe is nothing short of amazing, really. I always try to eat here when going home to visit my parents. *****

Mario's pizza - Several locations in town, most notably Clear Lake Blvd. Good horseshoes, with a spicy cheese sauce, but not a lot of options for meats. They do have a couple italian varieties, which I recommend giving a try, but nothing worth writing home about. ***

Steak and Shake - You know the place if you're from the midwest. They do serve a horseshoe in Springfield, and it's pretty decent for fastish food. Better options for the price. *

Red Coach Inn - North grand avenue. Never had one, but they're supposedly one of the "originals." In town. Far away from where I live, so not worth taking the drive.

Norb Andy's Tabarin - Capitol Avenue and 5th street. My favorite place for ambience and fun downtown, and the horseshoes are really good too. Very standard Springfield fare- they have the formula and they don't screw with it. Convenient to the downtown bars, etc, and they're open til 3 am for drinks. ****

The Barrelhead - Wabash Avenue, right across from a Steak and Shake. Great horseshoes, very cheap drinks most of the time, and good service. I like this place due to good memories, but they're temporarily closed due to tornado damage. ***