Hawthorne Race Course would like to remind horsemen that the stake payment for this season’s Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old crop must be postmarked no later than Friday, April 15.

The single staking payment of $1,250 will keep horses eligible to all four legs of the stakes series and the final or consolation which will all be contested at Hawthorne.

The top 10 highest point earners in the four legs will make the finals which will be contested on Hawthorne’s Night of Champions which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10. The consolations are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11.

Please make nominating cheques payable to:
Hawthorne Race Course
C/O Horseman’s Bookeeper
3501 S. Laramie Ave
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 780-3700

A complete list of the dates for the legs of the stakes and a nomination form can be found at hawthorneracecourse.com.

Racing Secretary Pete Hanley has also decided to push back the deadline for this spring’s “Have Em Ready to Roll” Late Closing Series. Originally scheduled to close on April 15, horsemen will now have until Wednesday, April 27 to get their nominations in for the bevy of series fashioned by the ambitious Hanley.

“With April 15 being “tax day” and all the other stakes in Illinois being due that day I just wanted our horsemen to have a few days to catch their breath and take a good look at what we hope will be another well-received Late Closing program,” said Hanley.

All of these late closers will carry an entry fee of $200 and nominations will close on April 15th. The complete late closing series schedule as well as instructions and nomination forms are attached and also available at hawthorneracecourse.com.

CARDINAL & VIOLET ALSO DUE BY APRIL 15

Hawthorne Race Course, the IHHA and the Illinois Department of Agriculture would like remind horsemen that nominating payments for the 2016 Cardinal and Violet Stakes, to be contested at Hawthorne Race Course in September, are due to the Illinois Department of Agriculture by Friday, April 15th.

The two-year-old Violet and Cardinal Finals are tentatively scheduled to be contested on Sept. 24th and 25th. Eliminations will be held (if needed) the week prior to the finals. (Dates are subject to change). Purses for these races are yet to be determined.

Staking payments for the Cardinal and Violent events are made to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Nomination forms and payment information may be found here.

Please continue to check the IDOA website or the IHHA website for updates. If you have questions, please call the Bureau of County Fairs & Horse Racing at 217-782-4231.

(with files from Hawthorne)