Hawthorne Race Course cancelled the remainder of its Dec. 13 card due to unacceptable track conditions, the racetrack announced following the second race of the day
Although it was not raining at the Illinois track, thawing of the frozen dirt may have made the surface uneven, said Hawthorne spokesman Mitchell Demick.
“We had a bunch of water coming up through the frozen surface when the weather warmed up a little,” said Demick. “It was a little slippery.”
"After talking with the riders we thought it best to stop after a couple races," said Jim Miller, assistant general manager at Hawthorne. "We're keeping the safety of the horses and riders in mind. Now, looking at the forecast for the next 10 days, it's supposed to stay below freezing, which will help everybody involved because we'll just be dealing with a freeze-dried racetrack then. We're going to do everything possible to ensure a quality racing surface for Friday and Saturday."
Miller said the track would be closed for workouts Dec. 14, but racing is scheduled to resume at Hawthorne that day, when the forecast calls for cloudy skies, a high of 24 degrees, and a 10% chance of precipitation.
