Illinois 2018 Schedule May Hinge on Legislative Help
The Illinois Racing Board has approved a 2018 schedule roughly mirroring 2017 dates but only after hearing dire predictions for the industry's future absent financial help from state lawmakers.
Keyword: Hawthorne Race Course
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Hawthorne Race Course Joins NTRA
The Chicago-area racetrack has emerged as one of the leading destinations for NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) qualifying contests.
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Hawthorne Set for March 3 Opening Day
The spring thoroughbred meet at Hawthorne opens on March 3 with a nine-race card.
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Illinois Board Ponders Plan to Pump $500K Into Purses
The Illinois Racing Board on Jan. 24 discussed a proposal to put $500,000 in expected surplus funds into the state's purse accounts.
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Winter Weather Forces Track Cancellations
Aqueduct, Hawthorne, Charles Town, Turfway have canceled Dec. 15 cards.
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Arrests Made After Hawthorne Stabbing Death
A Chicago television station has reported three persons of interest were taken into custody Nov. 17 in connection with a man's death by stabbing at Hawthorne Race Course. The victim was identified by the medical examiner as Rodrigo Flores Garcia.
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Arlington, Hawthorne Reach Dates Agreement
The two remaining Chicago-area tracks, for the second straight year, have submitted coordinated dates requests for the coming year to the Illinois Racing Board.
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Hawthorne, DerbyWars Reach Agreement
In the first agreement of its kind between a racetrack and racing contest site, DerbyWars will contribute revenue to Hawthorne Race Course and Illinois horsemen.
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Illinois THA Reaches Out to Arlington
The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association said it believes it can find common ground with Arlington as it moves into contract negotiations and also work with track officials to better position Illinois racing.
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IRB Passes Rules Amid Industry Turmoil
The Illinois Racing Board Jan. 26, over the objection of horsemen and breeders, advanced a request by the state's three remaining tracks for more flexibility in carding races.
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IL Group Restates Opposition to Rule Changes
The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Jan. 24 said proposed changes in state racing regulations, as well as another rule that allows racetracks to "recapture" purse money, "threaten to crush" horse racing.
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Commissioner Ends Career on High Note
WinStar Farm's Commissioner went out on a high note Nov. 28, ending his career with a victory in the $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Hawthorne Race Course.
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Slots Spread, Illinois Tracks Can Only Watch
Illinois racetracks, which aren't permitted to have gaming machines, have watched about 5,100 other locations install slot machines which, according to a report, aren't subject to typical casino-style regulation.
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Hawthorne Cancels Nov. 18 Live Racing
Citing dangerous wind conditions, Hawthorne Race Course canceled live racing for Nov. 18.
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Lucky Lindy Invades for Hawthorne Derby Win
Augustin Stables' Lucky Lindy traveled south from Woodbine on an Illinois raiding trip and easily claimed his second graded score, sailing home in the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby (gr. IIIT) by 2 1/4 lengths.
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Illinois Vote Could Impact Thoroughbred Dates
The Illinois Racing Board Aug. 27 granted Maywood Park permission to scrap the final three months of its harness season, a controversial decision with implications for the coming year's Thoroughbred dates.
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Arlington, Hawthorne Mesh '16 Dates Schedules
Amid uncertainty about the future of Illinois racing, the state's two Chicago-area tracks July 31 submitted live racing dates requests for 2016 that fit together like puzzle pieces.
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Illinois Financial Crisis Impacting Racing
The Illinois Racing Board May 19 approved summertime racing at two state fairs and one county fair amid uncertainty about funding from the cash-strapped state and a wrangle about advance deposit wagering.
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Versatile Awesome Flower Set for Sixty Sails
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's versatile Awesome Flower appears the one to beat in the $150,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) from Hawthorne Race Course on April 18.
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Cross the Line Ships East for Illinois Derby
Cross the Line will try to secure his first graded stakes win when he faces an expected eight other 3-year-olds in the Illinois Derby (gr. III) April 15 at Hawthorne Race Course.
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'Pharoah' Records Final Workout for AR Derby
American Pharoah put in his final workout for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I), breezing six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 the morning of April 5 at Santa Anita Park
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Short on Horses, Two Tracks Warn Horsemen
With field size an issue as winter turns to spring, two racetracks located about 45 minutes apart are reinforcing policies designed to keep horses on the grounds.
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Hawthorne Hopes to Overcome Obstacles
Live Thoroughbred racing returned to the Chicago area Feb. 20 as Hawthorne Race Course began its season amid frigid weather and an equally challenging financial and political landscape.
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New Leadership Coming for Illinois Board
Newly inaugurated Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is shaking up the Illinois Racing Board, ousting chairman William Berry and appointing three new members -- one perhaps only for transition purposes.
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Hawthorne Jockey Slinger Sent to Hospital
Jockey Stephanie Slinger was taken to Loyola Medical Center complaining of rib and back pain after being thrown from her mount in the fifth race Jan. 1 at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Ill.
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Hawthorne: Average Daily Handle Increases
Hawthorne Race Course reported increases in average daily pari-mutuel handle for its 2014 fall/winter meet, which ended Dec. 31.
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Red Rifle Continues Good Season for Geroux
Twin Creeks Racing Stable's Red Rifle delivered the latest in a line of satisfying stakes scores for jockey Florent Geroux Nov. 29, winning the $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II).
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Tracks Find Human Touch Key With New Apps
In trying to introduce customers to new technology such as track wagering apps and web-based platforms, racetracks are finding a human touch-and a little cash -- still helps.
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Hawthorne Spring Meet to Begin Feb. 21
Hawthorne Race Course's spring meet begins Friday, Feb. 21. Sixty-nine horses are entered for the opening day card at the Stickney, Ill., track.
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Illinois Reauthorizes ADW at Last Minute
Acting under a looming deadline, the Illinois legislature Jan. 29 reauthorized advance deposit wagering in the state, staving off a draconian cut in 2014 racing dates.
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Xpressbet Offers Sweepstakes for Customers
Online wagering provider Xpressbet is giving two customers the opportunity to place a $10,000 win bet on a horse of their choosing.
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Former Racetrack Executive Edward Duffy Dies
Edward Duffy, a former Chicago police officer who went on to become an executive at two Illinois racetracks, died Jan. 4, 2014, in Arlington Heights, Ill., at age 68.
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No Legislative Action on Illinois ADW Bill
Illinois racing remained on the brink of virtual extinction as the state legislature took no action Dec. 3 on a bill that would have provided funding to run a full 2014 schedule.
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Hawthorne Gold Cup: Last Gunfighter Prevails
New York shipper Last Gunfighter earned his fourth graded stakes win of the year, closing to get the job done in the $350,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Hawthorne Racecourse Nov. 30.
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Last Gunfighter, Alpha Top Hawthorne Gold Cup
Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Last Gunfighter and grade I winner Alpha head a competitive Nov. 30 edition of the $350,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap Presented by Xpressbet (gr. II).
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ADW Extension Agreement Reached in Illinois
Illinois horsemen and representatives of the state's racetracks and Advance Deposit Wagering providers have reached agreement on an extension of ADW for three years.
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Longshot Delivers Trainer Reed Win 1,000
Kentucky-based trainer Eric Reed secured the 1,000th victory of his career Sunday, Oct. 27 when Itsyesornoihavtogo scored an upset victory in the first race at Hawthorne Race Course.
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IL Racing Gutted Unless Legislature Acts
The Illinois Racing Board approved four alternate schedules Sept. 24 for 2014 racing with legislative action--or inaction--left to determine which one is put into effect.
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Illinois Board Starts 2014 Dates Deliberation
No decision or recommendation will result from the preliminary hearing, but it will launch deliberations and clear the way for a vote a week later.
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Illinois Tracks Officially Get Casino Money
The Illinois Racing Board June 25 formally allocated $23 million in casino money to the state's racing interests amid hopes it will bridge a financial gap until a broader gaming expansion bill is approved.
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Hawthorne Names Plever New Racing Secretary
Hawthorne Race Course has hired industry veteran Allan Plever as racing secretary and director of racing operations, the Chicagoland oval announced in a release June 11.
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Departing Dusts Rivals in Illinois Derby
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Departing rolled to a strong 3 1/4-length victory in the $750,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne April 20, proving his class after a third-place finish in the March 30 Louisiana Derby.
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Hawthorne Kicks Off Chicago Racing Season
Hawthorne Race Course will begin the 2013 live Thoroughbred racing season in the Chicago area Feb. 15 for a 49-day winter/spring meet that concludes April 28.
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Oaklawn Continues Ban on Hawthorne Horses
Despite the lifting an equine herpesvirus-related quarantine at Hawthorne Race Course, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas is still not permitting Hawthorne horses on its grounds.
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Hawthorne Quarantine Could be Lifted Jan. 10
Seven horses have died since an equine herpesvirus outbreak in October, including a horse who had been in quarantine on Dec. 24.
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EHV-1 Impacts Hawthorne Horsemen's Plans
A horse at Hawthorne was euthanized Nov. 26 and a necropsy revealed the horse had EHV-1. It is the fourth horse to die of the disease during the Hawthorne fall meet.
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Hawthorne Continues to Deal with EHV-1
On Nov. 16, track officials confirmed a horse who died Nov. 14 and one other ailing horse had tested positive for EHV-1. The deceased horse is the third confirmed death from EHV-1 during the outbreak.
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EHV-1 Outbreak: Hawthorne Adjusts Training
Updated test results from an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) at Hawthorne became available Nov. 7, and Hawthorne announced training hours would be adjusted to facilitate reintroduction of horses into the population.
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Oaklawn Bans Hawthorne Horses Due to EHV-1
With the Oaklawn Park stable area set to open Nov. 12, the Arkansas track announced Nov. 7 that it will ban all horses from Hawthorne in response to a growing number \there being diagnosed with Equine Herpes Virus.
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Hawthorne Barn Placed Under Quarantine
Following discussions with state veterinarians, the Department of Agriculture, and consultants from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the decision was made to put a quarantine of the affected barn in place.
