Hawthorne gets approval for stakes, dates and purse cuts

The Illinois Racing Board on Tuesday approved changes to the stakes and

racing schedule for Hawthorne's fall meet, according to a report in Daily

Racing Form.

The purses for all three of Hawthorne's graded stakes have been reduced for

their October renewals. The Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) has dropped from $500,000 to

$250,000, the Hawthorne Derby (G3) from $250,000 to $150,000, and the Robert F.

Carey Memorial H. (G3) from $150,000 to $100,000. The $100,000 Indian Maid H., a

turf event for fillies and mares, has been eliminated.

Hawthorne will also reduce its racing schedule by eliminating Sundays. Racing

will be conducted from Wednesdays to Saturdays, beginning October 1.

The track's assistant general manager Jim Miller stated that non-stakes

purses will start out at an average of $125,000, 10 percent lower than last

year.

The drastic cuts to stakes, dates and purses were sought to alleviate a large

purse overpayment with the expectation that the purse account could become

balanced by the end of the year. Miller told the trade daily that purse

increases were possible during the meet depending on betting handle.