Chicago, IL — Suburban Downs at Hawthorne Race Course received Illinois Racing Board approval to shift Friday programs to Mondays for last two months of this year and to delete one racing date.

The request from Hawthorne was unanimously approved by the IRB at its Oct. 12 meeting.

A submission to the IRB from Hawthorne officials said the move from Friday nights to Monday nights would eliminate competition with both Meadowlands and Woodbine Mohawk Park on Fridays. Hawthorne also noted that it already is scheduled to race Sunday and Monday evenings for the early portion of its 2024 harness meet from Jan. 1-Feb. 13, so there will be some continuity heading into next year.

The objective is to improve visibility of the product in the simulcast market and to increase pari-mutuel handle.

The track was approved to vacate racing on Friday (Dec. 22); there will be no racing the following Monday, which is Christmas Day. So the 49-night meet will be reduced to 48 nights.

The bulk of the 2024 harness meet will be held from mid-October through the end of the year.