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June County Fair Races to be held in Springfield

Illinois horse racing has returned. Several people worked very hard to get us to this turning point . The best way we can thank them is for all of us to follow the rules.

Going forward our qualifying and race day routine will look much different. Remember it’s different for everyone, horsemen, staff, management, and officials. Please be patient, it’s a new ball game for everyone.

When we run into small bumps in the road , we need to just roll with the flow. If we encounter big bumps , we’ll do our best to remedy them. Please be safe.

With live racing right around the corner, please take a look at the new safety rules that will be enforced and that we will follow at Hawthorne.

COVID19 Horse Racing Guidelines 5.28.20

Preview Article 2020

County Fair Supplement letter 5-28-20

Hawthorne qualifiers are scheduled for Monday, June 1^st at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, June 3^rd at 11:00a.m. If your horse raced after Friday, March 6 you will not need to qualify. You can if you’d like but it’s not mandatory. Effective June 10, qualifying standards will then go back to the traditional 45 days. We will resume live racing on Saturday, June 6^th and Sunday, June 7^th. We will then return to our normal three night a week schedule after that. There may be an adjustment on starting post time to maximize our opportunity for handle. The revised stake schedule and Summer Series can be found by clicking the links below. Because of the obvious lack of simulcasting wagering the past three months, we will start back with a 15% reduction in purses. We are hopeful that it will be the only purse cut of the year. The Illinois Racing Board will be open for licensing at the racetrack, days and hours to be announced soon. Strict safety protocols will be in place. Everyone must follow new rules. When entering the backstretch, you will have your temperature taken, masks will be worn at all times. Social distancing will be enforced. New paddock and ship in areas will be designed to conform to the rules. We will follow these rules religiously. No one person is more important than the whole of the industry. Do not show up without a mask and don’t take these warnings lightly. We have sacrificed too much lost time already to risk a setback.

2020 NOC and CV race dates REVISED 5.26.20

2020 Summer Series Revised dates

Also this just added…

Qualifiers on Friday and Saturday at the Springfield State Fairgrounds. Weather permitting qualifiers will be held Friday and Saturday at 11:00a.m.