Columbus, OH – The following was written by Neil Milbert, in the Friday (July 24) issue of Harness Racing Update:
The horse and buggy era has ended in the Chicago metropolitan area. This year, for the first time since 1945, there will be no pari-mutuel harness racing in the area.
And Chicagoland thoroughbred racing apparently hit the finish line for the last time when the final race at bankrupt Hawthorne Race Course was run on July 19, ending a continuous run for the thoroughbreds dating back to 1922 at the southwest suburban Stickney location.
The only bidder, a Delaware-based company named Allimac 23 LLC, purchased the 119-acre property earlier this month for $90 million with the intention of tearing it down and developing the land for commercial purposes.
To read the full story on Harness Racing Update, click here.