For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Miller (708) 780-3700
JimMiller@ClubHawthorne.com
Thoroughbred Season
Brings Renewed Optimism at Hawthorne
STICKNEY, IL – With the winter slowly coming to an end in
the Chicagoland area, a renewed sense of optimism can be seen on the
backstretch at Hawthorne Race Course as the spring
meet opens up on Saturday. Increased purses, a building horse population and
the return of a spring stakes schedule highlight the Hawthorne meet.
A purse
boost from additional host days, along with funds from the Illinois Purse
Equity Fund have brought about a significant purse increase to all races. Maiden allowance races have gone from $21,000
last season to $40,000 this meet. First level allowance races have grown to
$42,000, optional claiming allowance races to $46,000 and lower-level maiden
and claiming races have seen a 30-40% purse increase across the board.
The ability
to race for higher purses has garnered interest from trainers across the country
as the horse population on the Hawthorne backstretch is expected to exceed
1,000 horses for the spring meet. Large
stables from Larry Rivelli, Hugh Robertson and Gerald
Brooks are stabled at Hawthorne. Brian
Cook and Manny Perez also have large outfits on the Hawthorne backstretch. A strong riding colony is led by past champs Jareth
Loveberry and Victor Santiago. Jockeys Rocco Bowen
and Santo Sanjur return while newer faces to
Hawthorne, Ty Kennedy, Orlando Mojica, Jorge Urdaneta and Carlos Villasana join the jockey’s room.
The meet
will open with a heavy slate of dirt sprint races as horses continue to get
fit. Later in the month of April, more
route races will be mixed in while turf racing is expected early in May. Eight stakes races are back on the schedule at Hawthorne this
spring, four for state-bred horses and four open races. All eight stakes will go for $75,000 with
four of the stakes being conducted on the turf course.
“We are
very excited about the spring meet,” stated Hawthorne Assistant General Manager
John Walsh. “The horsemen of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association
have already shown great support in the entry box. The increased purses have
been a major draw. Also, to start building a stakes schedule once again shows
that things are headed in right direction at Hawthorne.”
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s
Hometown Track, races year-round in 2022. The winter harness season concluded
on Sunday, March 20. Spring thoroughbreds kick off Saturday, April 2 and
conclude Saturday, June 25. The summer harness season begins on Thursday, June
30 and races through Sunday, September 11. Fall thoroughbreds return Friday,
September 23rd and race through Saturday, December 31. For any information
about Hawthorne Race Course visit our website
www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.
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