Hawthorne Race Course

Race Tracks > Hawthorne Race Course

Notable Stakes and Listed Racing Events at Hawthorne Race Course

• Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (G3) | 3-year-olds and up going 1-1/4 mi.
• Illinois Derby (G3) | 3-year-olds and up going 1-1/8 mi.

Hawthorne Race Course Racing and Track History

In 1891 Edward Corrigan, Chicago businessman and owner of Kentucky Derby winner Riley, finished construction of a brand new race course and grandstand in Cicero, Illinois. Kicking off with a five-race card that included the Chicago Derby, the Hawthorne Race Course was born and to this day is the oldest continually family run race track in the country.

The current owners, the Carey Family, came to be involved when Thomas Carey purchased the race course in 1909. Carey struggled to keep the course open with increased pressure from local police and sheriffs, but he managed to hold meets sporadically. In 1927, the track began to gain national promenance with the introduction of the Grade III Hawthore Gold Cup Handicap, previously won by Breeders' Cup Classic winners Awesome Again and Black Tie Affair, as well as Breeders' Cup Turf winner Buck's Boy.

The race course has suffered an unfortunately string of fires over the course of its operation, starting in 1902 when the grandstand burned completely. In 1978, the track had to be closed for repairs due to the grandstand burning down once again.

Over the years, Hawthorne has worked to expand its breadth of events by adding turf racing, harness racing, and occasionally quarter-horse races. In 2020, Hawthorne received approved to begin operations as a Racino (a combination race course and casino).

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