Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:3501 South Laramie Avenue
Cicero, Illinois
Our Sports Superfan Says:
Hawthorne Race Course, now in operation for almost 120 years, is the second most important race track in the Chicago area. The track has three meets, with spring and fall dedicated to the thoroughbreds, and summer for harness racing.
As the second track in the area, behind Arlington Park, Hawthorne hosts a few important grades stakes races. The two biggest are its Grade 2 races – the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap and the Illinois Derby.
Hawthorne Race Course opened in 1890, and was shut down from 1916-1922 by police. After it reopened, and regained its place in the Chicago racing scene, Hawthorne eventually took Arlington's schedule (with the exception of its biggest race, the Arlington Millions) after that park burned down in 1985, though it had to return it when Arlington reopened in 1988. A fire hurt Hawthorne as well, in 1978, closing it down until 1980.
Located in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, Hawthorne Race Course is served by the Metra Burlington Northern train from Chicago's Union Station, and the Douglas B. O'Hare el train.