I've never been to Hawthorne, but I read a interesting book called "Horseplayers, Life At The track" by Ted McClelland. It's a "must read" for any old horseplayers like me. Hawthorne is a big part of the book. The characters he talks about are the same we have all met at racetracks and OTB's around the nation. He talks a lot about Hawthorne and give an honest and frank assessment on racing at Hawthorne years ago. A great read.