Hawthorne Race Course President Tim Carey has named Pete Hanley as racing secretary for the upcoming Suburban Downs at Hawthorne harness meet.

The meet will begin on Friday, January 8 and will race through Saturday, February 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 9 to 10 races taking place each racing night.

Hanley comes from a family that has a 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. Hanley has done almost every job in the harness industry, and recently served as a steward at Running Aces from 2012 – 2014. In 2013, Hanley 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 is currently racing its fall Thoroughbred meet, which will conclude on January 2. The track surface will then be converted for the opening of the Suburban Downs at Hawthorne harness meet, which will begin on January 8. For details on racing at Hawthorne, visit hawthorneracecourse.com.

(With files from Hawthorne)