Illinois Suspends Hawthorne Harness License Over ‘Financial Difficulties’
The future of racing at Hawthorne Race Course is in jeopardy after the Illinois Racing Board late Monday announced it suspended the suburban Chicago track’s harness racing license.
In a letter sent Monday to Hawthorne President and General Manager Tom Carey, the state agency said the track failed to provide financial documents that would prove its suitability to cover the 34-day harness meet. The IRB canceled the track’s opening weekend of races after Hawthorne failed to post a surety bond, and those cancellations have continued the past three weekends.
Ahead of the opening weekend, several horsemen reported purse checks totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars bounced.
Today the Illinois Racing Board made a very difficult decision to suspend the operating license of Suburban Downs (which does business as Hawthorne). On Jan. 15th, IRB requested bank statements that reflect the operating fund, and any fund related to racing operations at Suburban Downs. Unfortunately, their financial difficulties, including failure to provide financial documents showing their ability to operate assigned 2026 race dates, have led us to suspend their license.”
Illinois racing board executive director Domenic DiCera
Hawthorne may get its license back if it can prove it meets the minimum requirements of operating a harness meet. That would include showing proof of “financial integrity.”
Hawthorne officials did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday night.
Hawthorne Mired in Lawsuits
The suspension is the latest blow for the Cicero track, located seven miles southwest of downtown Chicago. Hawthorne has faced several years of legal troubles as it has tried to get an approved casino up and running.
The Illinois Gaming Board approved Hawthorne for that license in 2020, just one year after state lawmakers passed an expanded gaming bill that, in addition to legalizing sports betting and expanding the number of land-based casinos in the state, gave the state’s racetracks the chance to host slots and table games to bolster their purses.
Unfortunately, the Carey family, which owns the track, could not find a partner. Work stopped after crews tore down Hawthorne’s grandstand to build the new gaming facility. Lawsuits began to pile up, first from liens on the construction project.
Last year, Churchill Downs Inc. filed a lawsuit after Hawthorne failed to pay its signal fees for the tracks the Louisville-based company provided for simulcasting. The lack of payment also led Churchill to block Hawthorne from taking bets on the Kentucky Derby last year at the track.
Then, last Thursday, Monarch Content Management filed a lawsuit against the track in Cook County Circuit Court. Monarch, a division of 1ST Racing, provides the simulcasting signal for such tracks as Gulfstream Park, Pimlico Race Course, and Santa Anita.
A copy of the lawsuit was not immediately available for review, and a message to the Monarch was not returned on Monday.
Hawthorne on Racing Board’s Wednesday Agenda
With Hawthorne’s harness license suspended, it makes a fifth straight cancellation a near certainty. After last week’s decision to cancel races, the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association wanted the board to give them options about racing.
The IRB will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday afternoon. According to an agenda posted last week for the meeting, Carey is scheduled to give an update on the track.
Hawthorne is currently the only racetrack operating in the Chicago area. Churchill Downs closed Arlington International Racecourse more than four years ago and has since sold the Arlington Heights property to the Chicago Bears.
However, Illinois lawmakers may allow a new track to open in or near the country’s third-largest city. A bill now before the legislature would repeal the veto rights Hawthorne had regarding such a development.
Hawthorne also is a partner with Fanatics Sportsbook, providing the sports betting operator with access to online and retail sports betting licenses in the Land of Lincoln. The IRB’s decision does not affect Fanatics‘ availability in the state.
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