The Future of Hawthorne Racecourse

[racing123]

So Churchill basically announced they will be selling ARLINGTON and wont be racing after this year - I don't know when the IRB meeting is where 2021 dates applications are submitted, but I'm guessing in the next 6 to 8 weeks...

How and when will harness racing fit in at Hawthorne when they will have the runners at their availability all year around?  What are Hawthorne's plans ?? When do they want harness racing?  when do they want the flats?  in typical past years, they've run a spring and fall flats meet when Arlington had flats from may to September..

I have a bad feeling Chicago harness racing will be a very mnor piece to hawthorns new schedule...what are the leaders of the IHHA telling their members regarding this??

[LUCPARK]

im pretty sure everything

will be based on new track getting built
as to how many harness dates

are in the future at hawthorne

[racing123]

is the tinley park thing still a possibility?  is buying or leasing Balmoral a possibility??  I even heard one possibility is harness dates at a revamped QCD...

2021 is right around the corner...is IHHA saying anything to it's members?  Who's in the know about any of these possibilities?? 

[swoodall]

You can clearly see that some of the harness horsemen who cried about not being able to race and blamed Gov. Pritzker for their losses turned around and took some of their horses to Indiana and Ohio instead of staying and racing at Hawthorne.

If the harness horsemen don't give a shit about Hawthorne then why should Hawthorne give a shit about them?

[Richard_Finn]

The dates have already been approved. Hawthorne Harness was approved for 68 days. May-sept.....and I believe if a new track is built, said track was approved for 15 days in December of 2021.

[Winners Win]

The dates have already been approved. Hawthorne Harness was approved for 68 days. May-sept.....and I believe if a new track is built, said track was approved for 15 days in December of 2021.

Oh no, someone posting real information.  That will derail this thread quick.  I'm sure we will get back down the busted out owner version though.

[racing123]

the IRB has not had their meeting yet which granted 2021 race dates...maybe date applications have been submitted - but nothing has been approved...FACT

[LUCPARK]

the IRB has not had their meeting yet which granted 2021 race dates...maybe date applications have been submitted - but nothing has been approved...FACT

dates dont get approved till mid sept .

those are facts..
 

[slivercharm]

The only people left in Illinois racing are the ones who don’t have gas money to drive to Indiana

[racing123]

Just got a text dates hearing is sept 16..so lucpark correct...also was told hawty applied for flats dates which overlap their request for some of their harness dates and if approved for flats they will nix that portion of the harness meet...

[swoodall]

Just got a text dates hearing is sept 16..so lucpark correct...also was told hawty applied for flats dates which overlap their request for some of their harness dates and if approved for flats they will nix that portion of the harness meet...

Correct.

The only idiots who will derail this thread are the ones thinking an approved scheduled is set in stone!

The Racing Board always retains the rights to adjust or amend race dates based on industry conditions.

Hawthorne will NEVER be held to race dates requested before any announcement of Arlington being sold.

Hawthorne would be given an opportunity to amend their request for breed and dates even after the dates hearing if Arlington was sold and no longer holding a tbred meet.

The IRB would never leave the Tbreds with only a Fairmount meet to race at.

In Illinois Tbreds always get priority and any harness fool who thinks otherwise is clearly on CRACK!  

[horses first]

Yes harness people should be very worried even though the thoroughbred horsemen have a two year deal this year and next with Arlington...don't hold your breath. Whether the place gets sold or Churchill decides to not race in 2021. Dates will be given to Arlington at this meeting in Sept but won't be set in stone if the place is sold. Next comes the fight between thoroughbred and harness horsemen like the old days. Carey's will not leave the thoroughbreds out to dry. If they are forced to leave that will create issues down the road filling races. Carey's are still involved with getting a harness track up and going somewhere. They have inquired about Balmoral even though it isn't in Crook county but still a non starter. Cook needs to scrap even nickel together with the budget mess they have going. If your a harness guy for next year your just counting the ways to be fucked to Sunday. Also Hawthorne slow footing the slots and gaming as they also had some delay issues. No better way to slowly get it done so they can continue to collect recapture. Purse account nearing a 1.1mln hole. Usually end of year breakage and uncashed tickets help that however there hasn't been a wager on track since Mar. While dark days won't help if everything remains bet on ADW.

[racing123]

horses first - some good info and good points made - thanks for chiming in - as a fan I sure hope the Balmoral deal works out...it's too bad the Tinley Park new facility plan got the axe...i'm sure lots of behind the scenes shenanigans and politics were the cause for that to fall through...

[horses first]

I don't know if Tinley is completely out of play and I don't think Carey's partnering with Rick H is still out of play. But like anything IL and IL harness racing things move slowly not a pace or trot but like a sloth or a turtle. With Arlington out of a picture Hawthorne can't provide for both breeds at one track while also sharing the same slot pie. Sure harness would get less then a 50/50 deal. Only longevity is having it's own track with slots and sports wagering. By the way don't think for a minute when Hawthorne gets up and going that the future is priced down the road to be sold to a casino for a major payday.

[racing123]

I couldn't agree more - Carey will definitely sell out and has a huge payday coming - he struck gold with the new laws giving him casino and sports...