Chicago, IL — Harness racing at Suburban Downs at Hawthorne Race Course in 2024 will be held for about seven weeks in the winter and return from mid-October thorough the end of the year, according to a racing dates order approved Sept. 21 by the Illinois Racing Board. In addition, Hawthorne will almost double the number of racing programs it oversees at the Illinois State Fair at Springfield.

Suburban Downs was approved for 46 live racing programs — from Jan. 1-Feb. 13 with racing Sundays and Mondays, and Oct. 19-Dec. 30 with racing Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. With one exception the programs will be held at night. For 2023, Suburban Downs was awarded 49 dates from Sept. 9-Dec. 31.

Hawthorne this summer provided purse money for 16 non-wagering cards at Springfield and the Du Quoin State Fair to serve as a lead-up to its fall Standardbred meet and provide opportunities for horsemen to race their 2-year-olds. Hawthorne president Tim Carey told the IRB that number will grow to 28 in 2024 working in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Dates have not been set, but the plan is to offer racing from June through early October.

Hawthorne was approved for 78 Thoroughbred programs from late March through mid-October.

Though various stakeholders discussed challenges of having only one Chicagoland racetrack hosting two breeds, there is optimism given an update Carey provided regarding the casino approved for Hawthorne four years ago. He said Hawthorne expects to close on financing soon, and that after approval from the Illinois Gaming Board, construction could begin; part of the grandstand already has been gutted in preparation.

“I believe we will have a casino up and running by the end of 2024,” Carey told the IRB. He also said Hawthorne is “fully committed” to building a second track to accommodate year-round harness racing; a casino license for a new track in the Chicago metro area was part of the 2019 gaming expansion legislation.

Jeff Davis, recently elected president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, said he expects a contract with Hawthorne to be signed this fall. He said the 2024 schedule is not perfect but it does represent the best efforts by all parties.

“I can attest to the challenges we all faced,” Davis said. “We would have preferred more dates at Hawthorne. But we’re excited about the casino and the second racetrack.”

Though casino revenue is not yet available, Davis said just the legalization of racetrack gaming has had a positive impact on the Illinois Standardbred breeding industry. He said there was a 95 percent increase in mares bred from 2018-2021, and an even larger increase in foals.

“I appreciate the cooperation,” IRB chairman Daniel Beiser said in closing comments. “These are not the easiest conditions but what I take out of this is there is continued optimism moving forward. And I appreciate the optimism.”