Hawthorne Racecourse (11/23/11)
Contact: Jim Miller
(708) 780-3700
Sunny skies, off turf at Hawthorne
We are back for a Wednesday afternoon card at Hawthorne under sunny skies with temperatures expected to be in the mid-50s. Unfortunately, due to rain that fell on Tuesday, we are off the turf course today, but all 9 races will be contested on a fast main track. I expect we will return to the turf on Friday for our day-after Thanksgiving card.
Jockey Brandon Meier was released from the hospital on Monday and has returned home for the Thanksgiving day holiday which is great news. We hope Brandon heals quickly and we look forward to seeing him back in the jockey’s room very soon.
Taking a look at the standings, after things tightened up a bit last week, jockey Florent Geroux has again opened up his lead for leading rider to 10 wins over Tim Thornton. Entering today, Geroux has 44 wins on the meet to Thornton’s 34. The consistent bug boy, Constantino Roman has quietly crept into third in the standings with 32 victories, followed in 4th but Julio Felix (31) and Eddie Perez (29).
For trainers, as Geroux opened back up his lead, so did Roger Brueggemann as he is 11 wins ahead with 26 on the meet. Chris Block continues to have a solid meet, currently in second with 15 victories followed by Joel Berndt with 13 wins.
Midwest Thoroughbred has sent out 17 winners for the Hawthorne fall meet to lead all owners. William Stiritz is in second with 8 victories followed by Eagle Valley Ranch and Danalisa Racing Stable, Inc., each with 5 wins.
Only one horse has 3 victories this fall meet thus far as Campo Joti has won three of four starts this fall.
We have a big weekend of racing ahead and a lot going on at Hawthorne. On Friday, we have our Guys Day Out at Hawthorne with a buffet and bar special in the Turf Club all afternoon long. Tricia, the Loop Rock Girl, will be on hand to give out and autograph her calendar along with meeting with patrons throughout the day. The party is almost sold out. For details, contact Hawthorne at 708-780-7050.
On Saturday and Sunday, the NTRA $100,000 Super Qualifier will be taking place, as Hawthorne and the NTRA will be giving away 10 seats to the NHC Championship for 2012. The contest is a real money contest and is open to all patrons. What you make you keep, and the top 10 finishers will receive the trip to the finals in Vegas. For details, visit NTRA.com.
A few scratches today, but nothing major:
Changes
Main Track – Fast
Off the turf
Race 1
Scratch #5 – Rajablou
Race 2
Scratch #6 – Editors Ransom
Race 3 – Off turf – 5 ˝ furlongs main track
Scratch #1a – Put and Take
Scratch #5 – Springtime Spell
Race 8
Scratch #6 – Tater Downs
Race 9 – Off turf – 5 ˝ furlongs main track
Scratch #9 – My Time is Now
Scratch #12 – Railey’s Blinkers
