THE END OF HARNESS RACING IN ILLINIOS. No money back to horsemen either

[LUCPARK]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AJZ6vc7iK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[Sweet]

You hit a bullseye with that prediction! 

So much to the fact that it seems like old news even though much of it hasn't happened yet! 

But playing out that way! 

Shit show and fire sale! 

[LUCPARK]

The tbred rep told me two months ago this was happening I knew

[Sweet]

The tbred rep told me two months ago this was happening I knew

I know what that asshole is praying for 

That the entire property known as Hawthorne Race Course located at 3501 S Laramie Ave, Cicero, IL 60804 falls into a sinkhole 

Otherwise investor, no  , sucker, yeh , when pigs fly because racing is at it's tail end and what an ugly, embarrassing mess 

The media is going to tear this fucker in a million pieces, the Carey name - done! 

[LUCPARK]

ihha went to war with spoons and forks

tbred reps ,,went to war with lawyers ...

thus the result..

[Papillon]

A federal bankruptcy judge in Illinois on Tuesday approved a motion that will allow Thoroughbred horsemen to access money in their purse accounts at Hawthorne Racecourse in Stickney, according to officials who attended a hearing on the track’s recent bankruptcy filing.

The approval will give Thoroughbred horsemen access to $1.11 million in purse funds that became inaccessible earlier this year after Hawthorne ran out of money to pay purses during its Standardbred meet, according to David McCaffrey, the executive director of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. Horsemen typically leave money in their purse accounts at tracks to pay bills related to training and racing.

The judge, Timothy Barnes of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, also approved a motion allowing the repayment of funds from checks that bounced late last year and earlier this year, according to McCaffrey. Those checks totaled $281,844.

The Tuesday hearing was the third held in the past eight days to consider motions related to Hawthorne’s attempt to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code. The track has secured $16 million in debtor-in-possession financing, and the hearings have focused on the proper use of that money to get Hawthorne back on track.



Last week, the judge approved a motion to pay for the conversion of the track’s racing surface from a Standardbred track to a Thoroughbred track, in anticipation of the track holding a live Thoroughbred meet this spring.

On Monday, McCaffrey said in an interview that the conversion work had barely begun, and he said on Tuesday that track officials told Judge Barnes that the Thoroughbred meet is not likely to start until April 18 at the earliest. Prior to filing for bankruptcy, Hawthorne was scheduled to start its Thoroughbred meet on March 29, and at last week’s hearing the track told the court that a meet might be able to begin in the first week of April.

Track officials also said at the Tuesday hearing that Hawthrone has begun reaching out to other racetrack operators to address its delinquent simulcast bills, and that several companies are close to restoring their signals to the track and the 12 off-track betting parlors that Hawthorne operates in the Chicago area. That would allow Hawthorne to begin building up revenues to support its operations.

Hawthrone said in its bankruptcy filing that it intended to reorganize for the purpose of finding a buyer or partner that would allow the track to build and open a casino. The Illinois legislature passed a bill allowing tracks to operate casinos in 2019, but disagreements among the track’s stakeholders – including dozens of members of the Carey family, which has operated the track continuously for 117 years over four generations – and the track’s deteriorating financial condition have thwarted any casino plans.

McCaffrey said that Judge Barnes has indicated in remarks from the bench that he believes the best path forward for Hawthorne is to start a live Thoroughbred meet so that it has the ability to pursue the casino license. Under the 2019 legislation, Illinois tracks have to host live racing in order to obtain a casino license.

[dougie]

I've never been to a track in Illinois, but i'm sad to see tracks close. Here in Maine, many tracks have closed over the years. Mismanagement, corruption, and a tiny fan base seems to be part of the reason Hawthorne's harness racing is pretty much done there.

[SPREE2015]

IF BUYERS ISN'T FOUND HORSERACING IS OVER

[rainman2]

Where will these drivers, trainers, and horses go?

[Sweet]

Where will these drivers, trainers, and horses go?

Hoosier give or take 200 miles, 3-4 hours drive.  Closest.

Obviously east, to south east.  Running Aces North west.  North east to Ontario, Canada.

Haven't these horses shown up for sale, auction.

[dougie]

Where will these drivers, trainers, and horses go?

Not to Maine! LOL!

[jupiter]

 Who wants to buy it? It's a giant sink hole already. How much would it cost to rescue the place? The place turned into a shit hole. The judge actually believes if they spend the money to open the OTB's and the Tbred meet it will be easier to sell. Haven't they been trying to do that? Nobidy wants it. Just gives them more money to steal. Just shutter it and add it to the list, Balmoral , Maywood, Sportsmans etc. Sorry Chitown you were once a great circuit.

[LUCPARK]

Two months or so of tbred solves nothin


Nobody buying that dump

And Carey still wants to major decision maker

Nobody is going partners with this clown


THOSE ARE FACTS

[Sweet]

Two months or so of tbred solves nothin


Nobody buying that dump

And Carey still wants to major decision maker

Nobody is going partners with this clown


THOSE ARE FACTS

2026 Thoroughbred Season Key Details:

    Season Dates: March 29, 2026 – November 1, 2026.
    Total Days: 63 days of live racing.
    Venue: Hawthorne Race Course, Stickney/Cicero, IL.
    Status: The schedule provides a mix of racing, though recent reports (as of March 2026) indicated financial challenges for the venue.

[LUCPARK]

They don’t have enuff purse money to last thru  Nov

Its over
After this short meet

Judge did nothin for harness peoole