After previously stating that racing would resume in Illinois this weekend, the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association (IHHA) stated on Friday night that the cards slated for Saturday, Jan. 10 and Sunday, Jan. 11 would be postponed to a later date.
"Hawthorne Racetrack and the IHHA have mutually agreed that during this difficult situation it would be best to vacate our races this weekend," stated the Association. "These postponed days will be made up going forward. We are hopeful this issue will be resolved soon."
The 2026 meet at Hawthorne was set to commence last weekend, but those dates were scrapped after a mandate issued by the Illinois Racing Board. According to a story in the Chicago Tribune posted on Wednesday, the Illinois Racing Board (IRB) indicated that the track "was unable to open the first weekend of this year due to its failure to meet the requirements to obtain an operating license for 2026, including various surety bonds to cover the track’s financial obligations," with those deficiencies reportedly rectified over the weekend.
According to The Illinois Thoroughbred Horseman's Association, who represents nearly 2,500 thoroughbred owners and trainers working around the year at Hawthorne, the Illinois Racing Board issued the following 2026 licenses to Hawthorne Race Course and Suburban Downs on Jan. 5, 2026:
- 2026 Organization Licenses for Hawthorne Race Course and Suburban Downs
- Advance Deposit Wagering License to Hawthorne Race Course, Inc.
- Intertrack Wagering License to Hawthorne Race Course, Inc.
- Intertrack Wagering License to Suburban Downs, Inc.
- Intertrack Wagering Location Licenses to Hawthorne Race Course, Inc. for locations in Joliet, Lansing, Prospect Heights, Crestwood, Oakbrook Terrace, Evergreen Park, Hoffman Estates, McHenry, North Aurora, Rockford, and Villa Park.
"This is a positive development, to be sure, but the recent events relating to Hawthorne’s financial condition are deeply troubling. The ITHA remains gravely concerned," said the organization. "It is incumbent on Hawthorne to demonstrate to the working men and women of our sport and industry that its financial condition is sufficient to support uninterrupted thoroughbred racing this year.
"It's also past time for Hawthorne to finalize the terms of a deal to operate a racino to generate the additional purse funds necessary to ensure that Illinois thoroughbred racing may survive, compete and, ultimately, flourish."
Hawthorne was granted veto power by state lawmakers preventing a new racino in the area, but nothing has been developed and finalized by the owners and operators of Hawthorne in the six years since that legislation was passed.
(Standardbred Canada; with files from ITHA)