Hawthorne Race Course

Contact: Mitch Demick (708) 222-4542

2009 Hawthorne Stakes schedule released

Stickney, IL – The Illinois Racing Board has released the 2009 stakes schedule. The staple of the spring meet, the Grade II $500,000 Illinois Derby will run on April 4. The last seven winners of the Illinois Derby have run in the Kentucky Derby, starting with War Emblem, who won both events in 2002.

The Sixty Sails Handicap, a Grade III stake for fillies and mares, will be contested on April 18, and Illinois Champions Day, complete with six $100,000 stakes races, will be held on April 25.

The $200,000 Bill Hartack Memorial, named after the Hall of Fame jockey who rode five Kentucky Derby winners, had its inaugural run in the spring, but will be moved to November 21. The shift in dates should make for a great year-end, post-Breeder’s Cup event for three-year-olds and upward.

The fall meet still features the Grade II $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup, held this year on October 3, as well as a pair of Grade IIIs: The Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap and the Hawthorne Derby.

The Illinois Festival of Racing will take place on October 31.

Throughout both meets, any Saturday that is not represented by a nominated stakes race will offer an overnight stake worth $60,000.

The complete 2009 schedule:

Hawthorne Spring 2009 Stakes Schedule

Date	Race	Purse	Conditions	Distance
4/4	Illinois Derby (Grade II)	$500,000 G	3-Year-Olds	1-1/8 Mile
4/18	Sixty Sails Handicap (Grade III)	$200,000 G	3-Year-Olds & Up F&M	1-1/8 Mile
4/25	Pretty Jenny Stakes (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Old Fillies (IL)	6 Furlongs
4/25	Land of Lincoln Stakes (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Olds (IL)	6 Furlongs
4/25	Governor's Lady Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	4-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL)	6 Furlongs
4/25	Robert S. Molaro Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	4-Year-Olds & Up (IL)	6 Furlongs
4/25	Peach Of It Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL)	1-1/16 Mile
4/25	Milwaukee Avenue Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Olds & Up (IL)	1-1/16 Mile

Hawthorne Fall 2009 Stakes Schedule

Date	Race	Purse	Conditions	Distance
10/3	Hawthorne Gold Cup (GR II)	$500,000 G	3-Year-Olds & Up	1-1/4 Mile
10/3	Indian Maid Handicap	$100,000 A	3-Year-Olds & Up F&M	1-1/16 Mile (T)
10/3	Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap (GR III)	$150,000 G	3-Year-Olds & Up	1 Mile (T)
10/10	Hawthorne Derby (GR III)	$250,000 G	3-Year-Olds	1-1/8 Mile (T)
10/31	Powerless Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL)	6 Furlongs
10/31	Lightning Jet Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Olds & Up (IL)	6 Furlongs
10/31	Illini Princess Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL)	1-1/16 Mile
10/31	Buck's Boy Handicap (IL)	$100,000 A*	3-Year-Olds & Up (IL)	1-1/16 Mile
10/31	Showtime Deb Stakes (IL)	$100,000 A*	2-Year-Old Fillies (IL)	6 Furlongs
10/31	Sun Power Stakes (IL)	$100,000 A*	2-Year-Olds C&G (IL)	6 Furlongs
11/21	Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap	$200,000 G	3-Year-Olds & Up	1-1/8 Mile
12/5	Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante (IL)	$100,000 E	2-Year Old Fillies (IL)	1-1/16 Mile
12/12	Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity (IL)	$100,000 E	2-Year-Olds C&G (IL)	1-1/16 Mile

The Estate of Thomas Carey has owned and operated Hawthorne Race Course for 100 years, distinguishing it as the oldest continuously family-owned and operated race track in the nation. As the oldest sports venue in Illinois, Hawthorne Race Course has been an integral player in the legendary heritage of Chicago sports entertainment. Hawthorne Race Course is currently running its fall thoroughbred meet, racing Wednesday-Sunday until January 11, 2009. For more information on Hawthorne Race Course visit www.hawthorneracecourse.com or call 708-780-3700.