The Illinois Racing Board has suspended the operating license for harness racing at Hawthorne Race Course due to persistent financial difficulties. The decision follows canceled races and bounced checks totaling over $582,000 owed to horsemen. Track officials claim they are close to securing a new financing deal for a casino.
The Illinois Racing Board announced on January 28, 2026, the suspension of the harness racing license for Suburban Downs, the operator at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois. The move stems from the track's inability to provide required financial documentation, including bank statements for operating funds, as mandated by the state Horse Racing Act.
Board executive director Domenic DiCera described the decision as 'very difficult,' noting that on January 15, the board requested proof of financial integrity to meet 2026 race date standards. Earlier, races scheduled for January 3 and 4 were canceled due to the failure to secure surety bonds, leading to the cancellation of all harness races for the year.
Financial woes have escalated, with a judgment by confession entered against Hawthorne on December 30, 2025, for $1.6 million in favor of Churchill Downs Inc. over a dispute involving simulcasting fees. Assistant General Manager John Walsh downplayed the amount as 'much lower' and stated no final settlement has been reached.
Horsemen are particularly aggrieved by bounced checks. Tony Somone, executive director of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, reported 66 complaints totaling more than $582,000. 'This money … is how we pay our bills,' Somone said. 'Not only the feed man and the vet but how we pay our mortgages, how we make our car payments. This is what we use to live on.' Additionally, Hawthorne allegedly owes nearly $700,000 in racing entry fees and a state grant held for horsemen.
Somone warned that the association is nearing a breaking point, urging radical action if unresolved soon. Harness horsemen president Jeff Davis called for evidence of a credible partner, not mere assurances.
Despite the crisis, Walsh informed the board that President Tim Carey is negotiating with a 'new partner' nearby and trusted in Illinois racing, promising swift progress on a racino. The track, granted exclusive racino rights in 2019, has faced six years of unfulfilled promises. In response, state lawmakers in November 2025 supported rescinding Hawthorne's veto power over competing proposals.
Hawthorne plans to transition to thoroughbred racing in March, but Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association president Chris Block fears bankruptcy could derail the meet, calling it a 'catastrophe.' Board members expressed frustration over Carey's absence from the meeting.
