Chicago, IL – A stalking horse bid of $90 million from a land investment company has been received as part of the auction process for Hawthorne Race Course, and a bankruptcy judge on June 29 will decide if he will accept the bid.
The deadline for bids on the Hawthorne property and related racing and gaming licenses is 5 p.m. on June 30. If other qualified bids are accepted, the actual auction will be held July 7 under a very tight timeline.
Hawthorne representatives told the Illinois Racing Board at its June 17 meeting that the stalking horse bid is a starting point, and that they expect there will be a bid or bids in excess of $100 million when the auction is held. Multiple entities have been touring Hawthorne and are impressed with how much preparatory work was done before the casino project stalled, Hawthorne President Tim Carey said.
“We do have a nice pool of people truly interested in keeping this thing going,” Carey said. “The true intent is to keep this business going. When (potential buyers) see the building, they see opportunity.”
The Hawthorne auction includes the company’s license for the unbuilt casino and, under current Illinois law, a second license in Cook County that was designed for a harness track and casino should Hawthorne become a Thoroughbred-only facility.
“There is no question the highest and best use of Hawthorne is horse racing, a sport and an industry supporting multiple economic sectors from backstretch workers and horse trainers to truck drivers and hay and feed suppliers,” the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association said in a June 26 release. “We remain hopeful the property will sell to a gaming entity that recognizes the enormous potential of Hawthorne as a racino entertainment destination.”
The ITHA earlier announced that given the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, Hawthorne has floated a plan that would maintain Thoroughbred racing through August, but with fewer days. Hawthorne, currently only racing two programs a week, would like to drop Tuesdays and race only on Sundays in July and August.
The track has been offering two seven-race cards a week with many short fields.
“If this plan comes to fruition and the schedule switches to once a week, Hawthorne is planning to bolster Sunday racing with more races,” the ITHA said. “With races confined to Sundays, Hawthorne will attempt to host 12 races each Sunday in July and August.”
Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Agriculture at the June 17 IRB meeting received approval for its 2026 meets at the Illinois State Fair at Springfield and the DuQuoin State Fair.
Springfield plans to race August 13, 14, 15, 19 and 20, with a make-up date of August 21. DuQuoin will race August 31 and September 1-2, with a September 3 make-up day if necessary.
Scott Halpin, bureau chief of county fairs and horse racing for the IDOA, told the IRB improvements continue to made at Springfield and DuQuoin. At Springfield, there is a new testing laboratory and plans to upgrade the sound system in both the grandstand and the barn area; and at DuQuoin, some old barns were demolished, a new paddock area was built, and work will be done on the winner’s circle and tote board.
“The Department of Agriculture is proud to support these Illinois horsemen,” Halpin said.
The IDOA this year will partner with Fairmount Park on things such as pari-mutuel wagering and export of the signal. Suburban Downs, the Hawthorne Standardbred licensee, has handled it in recent years.
The IDOA on its website has posted guidelines for the annual Night of Champions stakes program if the program is hosted by the IDOA at Springfield in late September. The website noted that “details are subject to change” if the program is held in conjunction with a partner.
Given the uncertainty at Hawthorne this year, the status of the track’s 20-day harness meet from November 6 to December 27 remains in limbo, as does Thoroughbred racing in September and October.