Purse Increases at Hawthorne

Additional Purse Money Secured by ITHA Arrives in Hawthorne Purse Account:

Time for Hawthorne to Generate More

At the Capitol last spring, the ITHA's lobbying team successfully secured a $900,000 boost for Hawthorne thoroughbred purses when legislators agreed to share a portion of the surplus funds accumulated in the state's Horse Racing Fund.

Those purse monies have now arrived in the thoroughbred purse account at Hawthorne. Purse increases will start Thursday, Sept. 25, and last through the end of this meet on Sunday, Nov. 2.

A table showing the purse increases appears below.

The ITHA extends its gratitude to all legislators continuing to support our efforts to preserve and invigorate the sport and industry of Illinois thoroughbred racing. We also offer a special note of thanks to Jim Miller, Hawthorne's director of racing, for overseeing implementation of this purse increase.

"As we continue waiting for Hawthorne to open its racino, the ITHA is doing its part to increase purses," said Chris Block, president of the ITHA. "Hawthorne leadership said during the latest meeting of the Illinois Racing Board that they intend to close the deal on their racino plan by the end of December — and we will hold them to their word. Our sport and industry is relying on Hawthorne to get this done as soon as possible."