Home / Business and Economy / Illinois Track Halts Racing Amid Financial Woes
Illinois Track Halts Racing Amid Financial Woes
4 Jan
Summary
- Hawthorne Race Course halted due to non-sufficient fund checks.
- Illinois Racing Board ordered temporary cessation of operations.
- The track faces issues with simulcasting and financing.
The Illinois Racing Board has mandated a temporary halt to live horse racing and off-track betting at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois. This order, issued late Friday afternoon, follows multiple instances of returned checks to Standardbred horsemen for unpaid purses. Reports indicate Hawthorne also failed to secure necessary bonds for 2026. The track's pari-mutuel operations were suspended, impacting wagering for Saturday and Sunday, January 3-4, though sports betting remained operational.
Financial instability has plagued Hawthorne, with horsemen's organizations expressing deep concern over bounced checks. Despite assurances from track officials that these were due to processing errors, the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association called for bank verification, which was not provided. This situation follows previous incidents where Churchill Downs Inc. and other tracks cut off simulcast signals to Hawthorne due to alleged non-payment of settlement fees.
Hawthorne, a historic track owned by the Carey family since 1909, has been the sole remaining racetrack for both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing in the Chicago area since Arlington Park's closure in 2021. Plans for a casino facility were announced in 2019 but remain stalled due to financing issues and unpaid construction companies.
