Hawthorne president and general manager Tim Carey was scheduled to attend the meeting to provide several updates, but did not. John Walsh, the assistant general manager, was present and made a statement indicating that progress is being made on the project.
Walsh, who admitted he had no details, said Hawthorne “is working with a new local partner who wants this all to work. We’re working on something. I haven’t been this optimistic in four years.” IRB member Patricia Saccone responded: “Your optimism is honorable, but the explanation should come from (Carey).” Walsh said Carey met with partners at the time to move the project forward.
The primary focus of the first part of the IRB meeting was commentary from representatives of the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries who expressed concerns about unpaid money, loss of racing dates and frozen rider accounts. The IRB issued a statement Jan. 26 saying it has suspended the organizing license of Suburban Downs – Hawthorne’s hardsports licensing holder – for failing to provide documentation demonstrating its financial integrity and proof that it can meet the minimum standards set forth in the Illinois Horse Racing Act and the rules contained in Title 11 of the Illinois Administrative Code.
The actions followed an IRB decision to cancel the harness races scheduled for Jan. 3 and 4 because Suburban Downs failed to submit $500,000 in required sureties. That situation was remedied, but racing was canceled for three consecutive weekends in January. As of January 28, the first eight programs of the 2026 harness race had not yet been run, and it appears no races will be held from January 31 through February. 1 in light of the most recent action.
Tony Somone, executive director of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, told the IRB that his office had been contacted by 66 individuals who had a total of $580,000 in bounced checks — and he said there could be more. The money legally goes into the riders’ pockets, and Hawthorne serves as custodian.
Somone noted that approximately $267,000 in funding came from the Illinois Department of Agriculture for deployments. There had also been approximately $423,000 in stake payments made by Illinois harness riders. In addition, he said Hawthorne owes the IHHA about $312,000 for its operations, which the legislation says will be paid through the wallet.
“We’re at our breaking point,” Somone said. “That money is the riders’ wages. We are simply trying to access our own legislated money.”
IHHA President Jeff Davis said 10 of the first 14 days of the 2026 Standardbred meeting have been lost – the meeting officially ends on February 15 – and he said those lost dates need to be made up. Davis noted that a bill that would authorize a harness racing casino in Macon County and override Hawthorne’s veto of another harness casino within 35 miles of the Stickney location is pending in the Illinois House of Representatives, and he urged the IRB to contact lawmakers and support it.
“We need clarity and a viable path forward,” Davis said.
The harness industry was allocated only 34 racing programs at Hawthorne for 2026. Races will be held in Springfield and DuQuoin throughout the spring and summer, but those dates have not yet been determined.
The thoroughbred competition at Hawthorne will begin at the end of March. Chris Block, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, said it would be “catastrophic” if the situation with the Standardbred competition carried over to the Thoroughbred competition, given that the riders had already committed to coming to Chicagoland. Block told the IRB that the ITHA needs clarity, truth and assurance that the upcoming meeting will not be interrupted by Hawthorne’s financial situation.
Block also said Hawthorne owes Thoroughbred Riders approximately $572,000.
Walsh said in his comments that Hawthorne ownership and employees are “disgusted” by the lengthy delay in opening a casino due to the bank’s financial problems. “We need to resolve all of this as quickly as possible,” he said. “I think we’ll get out of this in a short time, maybe two or three weeks.”
Through Tony LaMarra
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