by Jim Miller, for Hawthorne Race Course

Stickney, IL — Hawthorne Race Course President Tim Carey has named Pete Hanley as Racing Secretary for the upcoming Suburban Downs at Hawthorne harness meet.

The meet begins on Friday (Jan. 8) and races through Saturday (Feb. 6). Live racing will take place five nights per week, with racing taking place Wednesday through Sunday. Purses for the Suburban Downs at Hawthorne meet are expected to average $75,000 per card with nine–10 races taking place each racing night.

Hanley comes from a family that has its background in harness racing. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program and got his first job in racing at Foxboro Raceway in 1984. He has worked at almost every job in the harness industry, recently serving as a steward at Running Aces from 2012–2014. In 2013 he was named Director of Racing and Racing Secretary at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.

“We are very pleased to have Pete as a part of our team for the upcoming harness meet at Hawthorne,” Carey stated. “Pete has experience, but also brings a fresh perspective that many horsemen we have spoken to say they appreciate.”

Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s hometown track, currently is racing live for the Fall Thoroughbred meet. Live Thoroughbred racing at Hawthorne takes place through Saturday (Jan. 2). The track surface will be converted for the opening of the Suburban Downs at Hawthorne harness meet which begins Friday (Jan. 8).

For details on racing at Hawthorne, visit www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.