Hawthorne Racecourse (3/24/10)
Contact: Jim Miller
(708) 780-3700
Illinois Derby Closes with 89 Nominations
Stickney, IL – The 53rd running of the Grade III $500,000 Illinois Derby will be taking place on Saturday, April 3 and closed with 89 total nominations for the race.
The past eight Illinois Derby winners have gone on to run in the Kentucky Derby. In 2002, War Emblem captured the Illinois Derby and followed that win up with Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories. Last year, Musket Man was victorious in the Illinois Derby and went on to run third in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
On April 3, the Illinois Derby will be run as the 7th race on the Hawthorne Card with a post time of 4:37 pm. TVG will be on-site at Hawthorne for the Illinois Derby card and will be televising the race live.
The Illinois Derby had 67 early nominations and 22 late nominees with many of the top three-year-olds in the country nominated. Below is the list of nominees for the Illinois Derby.
Illinois Derby nominations
Hawthorne Race Course is in its 101st year of racing under Carey family ownership. Hawthorne races Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday – Sunday with a first post of 1:35 pm daily through April 25. For more information on racing at Hawthorne, visit our website at www.Hawthorneracecourse.com.
