Hawthorne Racecourse (2/24/12)
Contact: Jim Miller
(708) 780-3700
Survivor begins on the mud at Hawthorne
We lucked out with weather today! Fortunately there was much more snow to the north of Hawthorne as we had accumulations around only one inch. We were able to seal the track before the snow began to fall and our track crew has been hard at work to remove the snow off the racing surface. Because it was more of a wet snow, we will list the track as “Muddy” to open the 9-race card.
After three days of racing, our one-two finishers for leading rider this past fall are currently tied atop the standings. Jockey Florent Geroux, coming off his title as leading rider this past fall, has 5 wins to kick off the spring meet. He is tied with Constantino Roman, who despite losing his bug, hasn’t missed a beat. Roman also has 5 wins in the first three days of racing. Back for her first full meet since having her first child, Inez Karlsson has also gotten off to a good start as she has won three races to hold the third spot in the standings.
On the training end, Roger Brueggemann hasn’t missed a beat. Coming off a tremendous fall meet, Brueggemann has started just as hot this spring, winning 7 times from his first 16 starters. Three trainers are tied for second as Chris Dorris, Frank Kirby, and Brian Williamson all have three wins on the meet. The fall meet leading owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc. has three wins to open the meet, one ahead of Hondo Ranch, Inc.
Today is the start of our online Survivor Contest. The contest is free to sign up for and play. Just visit our website at Hawthorneracecourse.com to enter. If your selection finishes in the top three, you move on to the next day. The person who survives the longest will take home the $2,500 top prize.
Tomorrow, radio legend Dick Biondi will be on hand to host a meet and greet in our Gold Cup Dining Room. The room will fill up so we ask that reservations be made through our Guest Services Department at 708-780-3733. Those getting reservations will also receive a coupon for a $10 buffet.
For those who received Mystery Vouchers in the mail prior to the start of the meet, make sure to bring those on Sunday to redeem them and make some wagers. At a minimum, those vouchers are worth $5, but many are worth much more!
We didn’t have a bunch of scratches today as the purse incentive for larger fields has helped to keep those fields together.
Today’s Early Scratches
Main Track – Muddy
Race 1
Scratch #1 – Braid
Race 4
Scratch #4 – Family Six
Race 6
Scratch #12 – A Dink a Dink a Do
Race 7
Scratch #6 – Doughnut Man
Race 8
Scratch #5 – Art of Survival
Race 9
Scratch #3 – Let Me Down Easy
Scratch #13 – No More Talkin
