2009 Fall Meet at Hawthorne Race Course September 30, 2009

The 2009 fall meet at Hawthorne Race Course runs from October 1st through December 31st. The stakes schedule is headlined on opening weekend by the running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup. Daily racing occurs Wednesday through Sunday with first post at 1:20 p.m. with the exception of Fridays at 2:30 p.m. through the week prior to Thanksgiving. First posts on Fridays after the holiday are at 1:20 p.m. Returning for another action packed season are top jockeys Inez Karlsson, Chris Emigh, Tim Thornton and Randall Meier riding for equally premier trainers Frank Kirby, Jamie Ness, Mike Reavis, Brian Williamson and Chris Richard.

Hawthorne's dirt racing surface has proven to be the safest surface in regards to injury to horses and humans in Illinois and the Hawthorne homestretch is the second longest in North America behind the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. While the autumn meet at Hawthorne has the largest field size in the state of Illinois featuring a full backstretch of horses and turf racing well into November, one of the season’s highlights is that the track is also the premier place to watch the Breeders' Cup on November 6th and 7th as the entire facility will be open to the public. Top players will be able to enjoy the comforts of the newly constructed Platinum Club which offers a Vegas-Style racebook setting and a 100 year old bar imported from Washington. Hawthorne has invested multiple millions in dollars in the past five years in a facility overhaul which has included a new floor surface on the first floor of the grandstand, 1,000 new LG televisions and a centrally located sports bar on the first floor of the grandstand.

Hawthorne Race Course will celebrate the season with a series of ongoing special events including $1.00 TGI Fridays featuring $1.00 hot dogs and beers, Senior Day Thursdays, and Bags Tournaments coupled with NFL Ticket Sundays in November.

For more information, please call 708-780-3700.

Official Website: http://hawthorneracecourse.com