Chicago-area horse racing is approaching a important second as Hawthorne Race Course struggles to stabilize its funds amid unpaid obligations, suspended racing, and rising concern from horsemen that the area’s final remaining observe could also be nearing the tip of its operations.
Throughout a gathering of the Illinois Racing Board on January 28, Hawthorne assistant basic supervisor John Walsh acknowledged that the observe is at present unable to satisfy its monetary commitments. He advised regulators that Hawthorne can not honor checks issued to horsemen and is utilizing its restricted earnings solely to cowl payroll and choose simulcast alerts. Distributors, horsemen, and different collectors stay unpaid because the scenario continues to deteriorate.
On line casino Venture Delays and Mounting Liabilities
The rapid strain intensified earlier in January when the Illinois Racing Board canceled Hawthorne’s harness racing after figuring out the observe now not met monetary necessities. On January 25, the board adopted up by suspending the license of Suburban Downs, the entity underneath which Hawthorne conducts Standardbred racing. A number of harness applications have already been canceled, and the suspension has forged doubt on whether or not any type of racing can proceed with out an infusion of funds.
Hawthorne’s monetary difficulties hint again a number of years. In 2019, state regulators permitted plans for a on line casino on the observe, a mission broadly seen as a possible lifeline for Chicago-area racing. Hawthorne demolished a lot of its grandstand in preparation for building starting in 2020, however financing did not materialize. Regardless of repeated assurances from observe management {that a} deal was shut, the mission stalled, leaving partially demolished buildings and unresolved building liens.
Walsh advised the board that Hawthorne is now pursuing a special strategy to revive the on line casino effort. “We’ve got gone in a special route within the final month and a half so far as getting the racino up and operating,” he mentioned. “We’re working with a brand new accomplice, somebody close by, somebody that’s trusted in Illinois and in racing, who actually desires all of this to succeed.
“So it’s not going to be the identical outdated, standard. We’re really engaged on one thing that’s going to occur. I’ve by no means been so optimistic within the final 4 years.”
Regulators and horsemen reacted cautiously. Monitor president and basic supervisor Tim Carey didn’t attend the January 28 assembly, regardless of being requested to look. As an alternative, Walsh and director of racing Jim Miller fielded questions however mentioned they lacked particulars on a number of key points, together with why Hawthorne’s financial institution froze its accounts.
“That’s one thing I do not know,” Walsh mentioned. “What the financial institution has achieved, what they’re doing. I don’t perceive the entire scenario.”
Horsemen Warn of Extreme Penalties
Leaders representing Thoroughbred and Standardbred horsemen warned that delays and uncertainty are already affecting enterprise selections. Chris Block, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Affiliation, mentioned house owners and trainers should quickly resolve the place to race in 2026, with Hawthorne’s Thoroughbred meet scheduled to start March 29.
“We wish to race this 12 months at Hawthorne,” Block mentioned, as Bloodhorse stories. “However to be clear, our biggest concern presently can be to start out the Thoroughbred assembly at Hawthorne on Sunday, March 29, just for Hawthorne then to abruptly finish the assembly as a result of it can not pay the purses. That might be catastrophic for our members.”
Block urged the board to intervene if Hawthorne fails to offer monetary transparency. “If Hawthorne shouldn’t be forthcoming with monetary data, we respectfully urge this board to collect that data and make it obtainable in order that house owners, trainers, and breeders have reassurance that committing to Hawthorne this 12 months is a sound enterprise resolution,” he mentioned. “Above all, we’d like readability. We’d like fact.”
Jeff Davis, president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Affiliation, mentioned members are owed almost $1 million in purse cash relationship again to 2025. “The horsemen who rely on Hawthorne for his or her livelihoods, who haven’t been paid since earlier than Christmas, deserve to listen to immediately from the particular person liable for that,” Davis mentioned of Carey’s absence. “His absence, I believe, is disrespectful not solely to horsemen, however to you as a board.”
Regulatory Stress and Shrinking Timeline
Extra monetary pressure emerged through the assembly with dialogue of a Cook dinner County Circuit Courtroom judgment in favor of Churchill Downs Inc. for about $1.6 million in unpaid simulcast settlement charges. Walsh disputed the quantity and mentioned no settlement had been reached, whereas acknowledging that Hawthorne has not paid excellent obligations.
Illinois Racing Board members explored choices to guard remaining revenues. Marc Laino proposed inserting Hawthorne’s earnings right into a segregated account for equitable distribution to collectors. Government director Dominic DiCera mentioned the financial institution at present controls the method, although employees had begun analyzing potential steps.
Board chairman Daniel Beiser closed the assembly by expressing frustration with the dearth of concrete data. “We don’t want empty phrases, we’d like specifics,” he mentioned. “We’d like stuff that may be verified and we’d like it in writing from Hawthorne.”
The timeline is tightening. Hawthorne’s harness meet, if resumed, is slated to finish February 15, with the racing floor sometimes transformed for Thoroughbred coaching instantly afterward. Walsh mentioned the observe is not going to proceed with that transition with out monetary decision.
