Hawthorne Cancels Third Straight Weekend as Banking Issues Leave Over $1 Million in Purses Unpaid
Ongoing financial issues forced Hawthorne Race Course to cancel all harness races for a third consecutive weekend, deepening uncertainty for Illinois horsemen awaiting delayed payments.
The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association (IHHA) announced on Jan. 16 that Saturday and Sunday’s races were canceled. Hawthorne said this was due to the “unresolved banking issue” that has left participants unpaid.
The track said it will ultimately distribute the purse money from the canceled races. The IHHA’s statement said that a record of the funds will be “reflected” in horsemen’s accounts “in the coming days,” with payment expected once the banking issue is resolved. The track hopes it will have a solution “in the coming week.”
Hawthorne expects racing to return on Jan. 24 and 25, with entries open until 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22. The IHHA thanked participants for their patience.
Horsemen Waiting on Significant Payments
Details surrounding Hawthorne’s banking issues remain limited. Illinois Racing Board Executive Director Dominic DiCarlo said that he believed the track’s bank account remains frozen. He said the situation caused approximately $500,000 in checks to bounce last month.
IHHA Executive Director Tony Somone told the Paulick Report that horsemen have between $300,000 and $400,000 in additional outstanding checks. When including the $140,000 in purse money from this past weekend, the track could owe horsemen over $1 million.
ITHA Seeking Answers
The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (ITHA) also weighed in on the matter on Jan. 16. In a statement, it said that the ongoing cancellations are “deeply troubling” and could jeopardize the planned spring thoroughbred meet scheduled to begin on Mar. 29.
The ITHA called on the Illinois Racing Board and Hawthorne to provide more details on the issues. It asked for clarity on the track’s current financial condition and the necessary steps to ensure live racing continues in Northern Illinois, where no other active tracks currently operate.
Hawthorne only recently regained regulatory approval to operate. It overcame issues with its license earlier this month, receiving the green light from the Illinois Racing Board on Jan. 5 to resume live racing and to get its 11 off-track betting facilities back operational.
While Hawthorne has committed to paying purses, uncertainty around delayed payments is placing financial strain on horsemen. The coming week will be vital for restoring confidence among participants who rely on consistent payments to continue operating.
Fanatics Sportsbook Operations Unaffected
While the banking issue has disrupted operations and payments at Hawthorne, the track’s sports wagering partner, Fanatics Sportsbook, has continued operations without interruption in Illinois — both online and at retail outlets — through multiple weekends of canceled live racing.
Fanatics holds four off-track betting locations in the Chicagoland area. It operates under a market access agreement with Hawthorne that runs through September 2028, following a 2024 four-year renewal approved by the Illinois Gaming Board.
This continuity contrasts sharply with the financial problems affecting pari-mutuel racing. It also raises questions about the impact of tethered wagering arrangements if Hawthorne’s license or solvency issues persist.
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