by Tom Kelley, for Hawthorne Racecourse

Cicero, IL — The 2017 Illinois conceived and foaled stakes schedule has been announced by Hawthorne Race Course and the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association.

A series of Late Closing events have also been scheduled for the summer meet which will begin on Thursday (May 11) and continue through Sunday (Sept. 24).

Payments are due for the 3-year-olds by Feb. 15 while those looking to stake 2-year-olds will have until April 15 to get their payments in. The nomination fee of $300 for each of the eight scheduled Late Closing events will be due on April 1.

As was the case last season the ICF 3-year-olds will have a single payment of $1,750 due while the state-bred 2-year-olds will have a single payment of $1,250 due for these added money events. The single staking payment will keep horses eligible to all four legs of the stakes series and the final or consolation. There is no nominating fee due for the older stake events. Complete conditions regarding starting fees, etc. for all events can be found at www.hawthorneracecourse.com.

The top 10 highest point earners in the four legs will make the finals which will be contested on Hawthorne’s Night of Champions, scheduled for Saturday (Sept. 23). The consolations are scheduled for closing night, Sunday (Sept. 24).

Stall applications have been mailed to all horsemen who participated at Hawthorne in 2016 and can also be found on our website at www.hawthorneracecourse.com. Stall applications are due no later than April 1 and stalls will be assigned by April 15.

A complete list of the 2017 ICF stakes, the 2017 Late Closing events, as well as the 2017 purse structure and conditions can also be found at the website. Purses are expected to increase by 30 to 40 percent across the board from 2016 levels.

Additionally, Illinois conceived and foaled horses will also have the chance to race for added bonus money in 2017. For those conditions restricted to Illinois bred horses, the purse will be increased by 10 percent of the scheduled purse for an open condition. State-bred horses will also receive a 50 percent allowance when racing with open horses.

Click on these links for the 2017 stakes schedule and Late Closing series schedule.

Please make all nominating checks payable to: Hawthorne Race Course, c/o Horseman’s Bookeeper, 3501 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, IL 60804.