The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (ITHA) notified members on Feb. 16 that the track conversion at Hawthorne Racecourse is underway, but noted that “Hawthorne has yet to provide the ITHA with any assurance that it has the financial means to begin the meet on Sunday, March 29, as scheduled.”
Checks from Hawthorne to harness horsemen have been bouncing since before Christmas; they are owed nearly $1 million in purse money. The Illinois Racing Board (IRB) has thus suspended the suburban Chicago track’s harness racing license, and the bank has frozen its account. At an IRB meeting on Jan. 28, Hawthorne president and general manager Tim Carey was a no-show when asked to provide an update on the track’s financial situation.
Instead, assistant general manager John Walsh told the IRB that Hawthorne would reveal a new casino partner within two to three weeks of the Jan. 28 meeting. No news has been released as of Feb. 16…