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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: hasbeen on June 03, 2026, 08:01:03 AM

Title: Hawthorne blown away?
Post by: hasbeen on June 03, 2026, 08:01:03 AM

Business paper said this morning that Hawthorne's site may be sold and made into an industrial park. Just like Maywood with an Amazon distribution center.
If Hawthorne gets out of racing, all that will remain in Illinois will be Fairmount, which is spitting distance from St.Louis.
Another day, another Chicago track falls into the grave and into the history books.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/commercial/ccb-hawthorne-race-course-real-estate-20260602/

Title: Re: Hawthorne blown away?
Post by: LUCPARK on June 03, 2026, 09:43:31 AM

thats the best news  of the day


fck carey

Title: Re: Hawthorne blown away?
Post by: balmoralfan on June 03, 2026, 10:01:44 AM

50 years ago,in Illinois you could race harness at:
Sportsmans
Hawthorne
Maywood
Balmoral
Washington Park
Aurora Downs
Quad City Downs
Fairmount
Cahokia
Arlington raced 1 or 2 years around the time Washington Park burned down.
Add in Springfield, DuQuoin and the county fairs and the standardbred business was in full bloom.

Corrupt owners, fiscal mismanagement, and fans flocking to the riverboats have killed the sport.

I hope old man Langley and Billy Johnston are rotting in their Graves.