Illinois Derby highlights National Jockey Club meet

The $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) heads the National Jockey Club's $1.85

million stakes schedule for 2005. Hawthorne will play host to the meet, which

runs from February 25 through March 12.

The Illinois Derby, which is set for April 9, was won last year by Pollard's

Vision (Carson City), who went on to score in the Leonard

Richards S. (G3) and Lone Star Derby (G3). Another well-known victor is War Emblem, who used the nine-furlong test as a springboard to take the 2002 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The other two graded events set for the meet are the $250,000 National Jockey

Club H. (G3) and $250,000 Sixty Sails H. (G3), which are both set for April 23.

Another big day will be on April 30, when Illinois runners will get their turns

in the spotlight. A total of six stakes have been scheduled for that Saturday,

with each worth $100,000.