Hawthorne Racecourse (3/28/11)
Contact: Jim Miller
(708) 780-3700
Hawthorne to Pay Purses to Bottom for Remainder of Spring Meet
STICKNEY, IL – In an effort to boost field size while offsetting some expenses to horsemen, the ITHA and Hawthorne Race Course agreed Monday to pay purses to the bottom finisher in all races beginning with the Friday April 1 racing card.
Following the pattern of the majority of racing jurisdictions across the country, 1 percent of the base purse will be paid to finishers from sixth through last in every race. Of the remaining purse total, purses will be distributed in the 60-20-11-6-3 percentages for every race.
“My feeling is we need to make some changes to encourage more participation in races while allowing owners the ability to cover jockeys fees and some other race-day related costs at a minimum,” stated Hawthorne Assistant General Manager Jim Miller. “I’m not going to lie, this spring meet has been a struggle to fill races. There are more tracks running, tracks with additional gaming-infused purses and this year we have had to compete for horses from another track in our own state, something we didn’t have last year. It has been tough, but I feel this will help bring more incentive to horsemen to race at Hawthorne.”
In the month of April, Hawthorne will race live every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. First post Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday is 1:30 pm while Friday post time in April will be 2:35 pm. The running of the Grade III $250,000 Illinois Derby takes place on April 9. Illinois Champions Day, with six $100,000 stakes races for Illinois-bred runners will take place on April 23. Hawthorne races in the spring through Saturday April 30. For more information please visit www.Hawthorneracecourse.com.
