Friday, September 23rd marks the opening day of Thoroughbred racing at Hawthorne Race Course. Over the course of the next 42 racing days, Hawthorne will feature a full slate of stakes races, highlighted by the $100,000 Guaranteed Hawthorne Derby, presented by BetMakers.
First post every day is 2:50pm, at least through November.
The storied Hawthorne Derby, first contested in 1965, is limited to three-year-olds, as all derbies are, and will be run at a mile and an eighth on the turf course. Bold Bidder was the first Hawthorne Derby winner. He returned the following year to take the Hawthorne Gold Cup
Over the course of the following nine weeks, Hawthorne will present nine stakes races, including the aforementioned Hawthorne Derby.
The following eight stakes races will be restricted to Illinois breds. The next six will all carry purses of $75,000
On Saturday, October 8th, the Illini Princess Stakes, for fillies and mares three and up, going a mile and a sixteenth on turf, will be run.
The following Saturday, October 15th, we’ll run The Pizza Man Stakes, for three-year-old and up males. That race will also be contested on the turf, going a mile and a sixteenth.
October 22nd brings The Powerless Stakes, going six and a half furlongs on the main track. This race is for fillies and mares, three and up.
The Lightning Jet Stakes, also at six and a half, is up next, on October 29th. This is for the boys, three and up.
Then we highlight two-year olds. The Showtime Deb Stakes, for fillies, takes place on November 12th, while The Sun Power Stakes will return on November 19th. Both will be contested at six furlongs.
Heading into December, Hawthorne will feature its final two stakes races of 2022. On Saturday December 3rd, The Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante, for fillies, will take place while the Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity will be run on December 10th. Both races carry a purse of $50,000 and both will be contested at six and a half furlongs.
THE CHAMPIONS RETURN
The defending champions, in their respective categories, will all return and all will be doing their best to repeat their championship meet. Jockey Jareth Loveberry, trainer Larry Rivelli, and owners Charles Ritter and Scott Becker are all poised to have big meets but are likely to face plenty of competition.
DON’T FORGET THE CONTESTS
Our first contest of the meet takes place September 30th. One of the more exciting prizes of that contest will be entries into the October 1st Hawthorne Invitational. And, you guessed it. The Hawthorne Invitational is October 1st.
Then, over the extended weekend of November 25, 26, and 27th, the ever popular Hawthorne Contest, will commence.
CLUB HAWTHORNE
Don’t forget to join Club Hawthorne. We feature some of the best benefits around.