2024 Race Dates Approved
The Illinois Racing Board on Thursday approved 78 thoroughbred race programs at Hawthorne Race Course in 2024.
Hawthorne will race two days a week — Saturdays and Sundays — from March 23 to June 1.
The track will race three days a week — Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays — from June 2 to Oct. 13.
Post times will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and 2:50 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The track will be dark on Thursday, July 4.
We expect the race track to be available for thoroughbred training around Saturday, Feb. 17, depending on weather.
Chris Block, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, credited Tim Carey and Hawthorne’s staff for their efforts to support continued thoroughbred racing in Illinois.
Carey told the IRB that Hawthorne plans to have its racino operational by the end of calendar 2024 and that construction will take approximately 12 to 14 months.
