Chicagoland Horse Racing Track to Close After 135 Years

One of the last of its kind horse racing tracks in Chicago is closing after 135 years in business. This comes after the track filed for bankruptcy back in March.

Hawthorne Race Course is the last operating horse racing track in the Chicagoland area. Located in Stickney, the track is set to close following its sale in bankruptcy court. However, per WGN, the owner said racing could still continue in the near future, but that remains to be seen, with a deal with a developer already in place.

READ MORE: Seven Save A Lot Stores Abruptly Close in Chicago

The End of an Era for an Iconic Track:

I have a personal connection to the track. My dad and I used to spend one or two sleepy Sunday mornings at the track when I was a kid. My dad would order a pitcher or two of beer and let me browse the program to pick out a couple horses I liked. He would place a wager, and I would watch the horses race in awe. Even when I go back to Hawthorne, usually only once a year, it brings me back to a simpler time in my life.

Per WGN, last week, a judge ordered attorneys for Hawthorne, the prospective buyer, and various creditors to complete a draft of a sale order. One of the conditions of the deal is the property must be cleared by August 31st, so this is a fast-moving process.

Efforts to find a buyer who would continue at regular racing and move-forward with a long-in-the-works plan for a nearby casino failed. Instead, the only bid for the property came from Allimac, a Delaware-based company, for $90 million. Rumors are already swirling that the plan for the property is a data center, which pours salt in the wound and suggests what a frustrating inevitability these large-scale warehouses are becoming.

The Last Day of Racing at Hawthorne:

Races at Hawthorne for Sunday, July 26th were cancelled, meaning Sunday, July 19th appears to have been the last day for racing at the track. At least when Q Casino closed the greyhound track a few years back, it was known, so people could attend the venue one last time. No such luck with Hawthorne, however:

We intend to work with the new property owners to continue racing operations for the foreseeable future, and we will continue to work with the ITHA (Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), the Illinois Racing Board and other state officials to release grant money designated for purses - a statement from Hawthorne Race Course President Tim Carey, per WGN

Hawthorne Race Course goes back to 1891, making it the oldest horse racing venue in Illinois. It's been in the Carey family for four generations. Its closure would leave Fairmount Park in Collinsville, IL, near St. Louis, as the last operating horse racing track in the entire state of Illinois.

Find out more about Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, IL closing on WGN's website.