Hawthorne

Agreement in bankruptcy court allows Hawthorne Race Course to begin conversion of track for spring race meeting.

Hawthorne Racecourse, Illinois, horsemen hear encouragement but see no final action at a first hearing on the track's bankruptcy petition.

Hawthorne Race Course filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Feb. 27 in federal bankruptcy court in Chicago, seeking a reorganization.

Chicago-area horse racing faces a potential life-or-death deadline in February amid financial woes at Hawthorne Race Course.

Hawthorne Race Course, despite more than six years of delay, remains committed to construction of a casino at its suburban Chicago location, track president Tim Carey told the Illinois Racing Board at the annual dates hearing Sept. 18.

Racketeering claims filed in a lawsuit against Hawthorne Race Course by a fired veterinarian were dismissed by a federal court judge who concluded the allegations do not meet required legal thresholds.

The Illinois Racing Board on July 17 approved a request from Hawthorne Race Course to reduce its remaining 2025 schedule from three days per week to two.