Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney to resume horse races amid financial problems

STICKNEY, Ill. (WLS) -- Typically, the racing season here at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney would begin at the end of March. But because the track is in bankruptcy proceedings, the judge is allowing them to start the season beginning Sunday.

Earlier this year, the track had its license to hold races suspended.

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Tractors have been busy getting the track surface ready for racing beginning Sunday. The stables along the back stretch are full of horses ready to run.

"We're hoping once we get started here," said Chris Block with the Illinois Thoroughbred Horse Association. "The horsemen get confidence and want to come back here and participate the rest of the season."

It wasn't long ago that Northern Illinois had numerous horse race tracks and a thriving industry that included trainers, track workers, horse breeders and agriculture. Now, Hawthorne is all that's left, and it is on life support.

"This is it for us," Block said. "If Hawthorne can't survive, Northern Illinois horse racing will be no longer. It'll cease. It'll be a tragic situation if that happens."

A Hawthorne spokesperson released a statement, saying in part, "This year in particular, we're so thankful for the horsemen, our staff and everyone who is working together to sustain Chicagoland racing during this critical time."

A bankruptcy judge is allowing Hawthorne to operate the thoroughbred season while they continue to look for a buyer. Money for purses has been guaranteed even though the track filed for bankruptcy without paying purses and expenses from the Harness racing which ended in February.

In response to the start of the thoroughbred season, the Harness Horsemen issued a statement, saying "We look forward to our next bankruptcy hearing on Monday and we are hopeful that Illinois Harness Horsemen will soon be paid the $2.5 million that is owed to them."

Hawthorne's owners originally planned to build a casino on the property several years ago. But they said in court funding fell through and they are now looking for a buyer.

'We need a buyer desperately," Block said.

The racing season is scheduled to go through November, but the bankruptcy judge has said if there's no progress on finding a buyer and a new source of funding, it may not go all season.