Chicago, IL — On Thursday (Sep. 19), the Illinois Racing Board met to consider the three applications for 2025 racing dates. With a 7-1 vote, the board approved the following race dates for 2025:
FAIRMOUNT PARK, INC. — 55 live Thoroughbred race programs with seven races per day minimum.
- April 22 through Oct. 28: Racing two days per week, on Tuesdays with a post time of 1 p.m., Saturdays with a post time of 7:30 p.m., and a post time of 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
HAWTHORNE RACE COURSE, INC. — 80 Thoroughbred race programs and 365 total host programs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.
- Jan. 1 through March 19: Dark host time. No live racing.
- March 20 through July 31: racing two days per week, on Thursdays and Sundays; and Saturdays on May 3, May 17, and June 7, but not on Thursdays May 1, May 15, and June 5.
- Aug. 3 through Nov. 3: racing three days a week, on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays.
Post times: Thursdays and Sundays at 2:10 p.m. and on Mondays at 5:20 p.m.
SUBURBAN DOWNS, INC. — 40 Standardbred race programs and 365 total host programs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.
- Jan. 4 through Feb. 23: racing two nights per week, on Saturdays and Sundays, with a post time of 7:10 p.m.
- Nov. 7 through Dec. 28, racing three nights per week, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a post time of 7:10 p.m.