By Kori Rumore | krumore@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune and Marianne Mather | mmather@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
The view of the paddock at Hawthorne Race Course in 1932 in Stickney. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)
A crowd is gathered at the grandstand for a race at Hawthorne Race Course in 1902. (Hawthorne Race Course)
Edward Corrigan, center in crop marks, who died in 1924 at the age of 82, was one of the two dominant figures of Chicago turf circles in the 1880s and 1890s. He was the original owner of the Hawthorne Race Course and his filly Modesty won the inaugural American Derby in 1884. Editors' note: This historic print shows hand painting and cropping around the central figure. (Chicago Tribune archive)
The finish wire at Hawthorne Race Course in 1902. By 1905, racing had halted at the track. (Hawthorne Race Course)
Thomas Carey, owner of Hawthorne Race Course circa 1909. (Tribune archive photo)
A crowd is gathered in the grandstand and the paddock at Hawthorne Race Course just before the inaugural Illinois Derby featuring 3-year-old thoroughbred horses in 1923. (Chicago Air Park Photo)
A groundskeeper waters down the track in front of the grandstand at Hawthorne Race Course, circa 1920s. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
The American Derby at Hawthorne Race Course in 1916. (Tribune archive photo)
The view from the grandstand at Hawthorne Race Course, circa 1920s. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
The view of the open-air paddock at Hawthorne Race Course in 1931 in Stickney. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)
The crowds at Hawthorne Race Course in 1931 in Stickney. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)
The second race at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney on July 3, 1924, was won by Arrowhead, who "came with a rush on the outside, and just got up. Top o' the Morning was caught in the barrier and ran a winning race. Simplicity quit." The three-quarters mile race had a purse of $1,000. Arrowhead came in first, Top o' the Morning in second place, and Simplicity came in third. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)
The crowd at Hawthorne Race Course in 1938. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
Hawthorne Race Course in 1934. (Tribune archive photo)
Entry clerks at Hawthorne Race Course receive entries from horsemen wishing to run their horses in a particular race they have marked in their books, believing their entry can win, in 1939. Entry clerk Larry Bogenshutz, second from left, checks entries as Sidney Brown, bottom right, checks over entries as to weight, breeding and eligibility. William Shelley, top right, taking entries, finds something to laugh about. (Chicago Tribune archive)
Hawthorne Race Course on Labor Day 1938. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
Painters put the finishing touches on ticket booths at Hawthorne Race Course in May 1945. (Tribune archive photo)
Charlie Bidwell, chairman of the board of the Chicago Business Men's Racing Association, operators of the Hawthorne racetrack, behind one of the teams of Belgians as they get the track in shape for races in 1944 (Chicago Tribune archive)
The view from the clubhouse during 1947 opening day at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney. A crowd of 13,859 attended. (Tribune archive photo)
A fire at Hawthorne Race Course destroyed a large portion of the stables on Sept. 24, 1955. Two horses died. (William Vendetta/Chicago Tribune)
Barn number 6 after a fire at Hawthorne Race Course leveled the barn killing 29 horses in September 1954. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
Track superintendent "Chuck" Miller, left, and Managing Director Robert F. Carey at Hawthorne Race Course in September 1963. (Hawthorne Race Course)
Hawthorne Race Course's famous Gold Cup in 1966. (Tribune archive photo)
Ernest S. Marsh, left, member of the Illinois Racing Board, makes a presentation to Jockey Bill Hartack, second from left, on Sept. 15, 1962, with J.E. Tinsley Jr., second from right, trainer of Winonly who won the Midwest handicap and Robert F. Carey, right, managing director of Hawthorne Race Course. (Chester Gabrysiak/Chicago Tribune)
Robert F. Carey, right, managing director of Hawthorne Race Course, shows other members of the board of directors of Hawthorne’s new improvements on Sept. 3, 1957, in Stickney. With Carey are William Carey, from left, Gene Carey and George Barry. (Chester Gabrysiak/Chicago Tribune)
Flames shoot through the floor from a false ceiling below at Hawthorne Race Course on Feb. 4, 1970, in Stickney. Firemen working in front of the Gold Cup Room got a hose caught in the fire. No one was hurt. (Arthur Walker/Chicago Tribune)
The dining area at Hawthorne Race Course on April 13, 1971. (Ray Gora/Chicago Tribune)
Harness rider Oliver Seems takes Horton Hanover for a workout at Hawthorne Race Course in 1972. (Tribune archive photo)
Robert Carey, left, president and general manager of Hawthorne Race Course and his son, Thomas, director of the meet, look over the trophy and blanket awarded the winner of the Inaugural Pace on opening night at Hawthorne Race Course on Aprl 13, 1971. (Ray Gora/Chicago Tribune)
Sarahs Toga (10), with jockey Cris Rogers, takes up the lead in the stretch of the second race at Hawthorne Race Course on July 25, 1973, in Stickney. Maxwell G. (1), a 12 year old horse that’s one of the oldest running in the Chicago area, was the favorite but couldn’t do better than place. (Ray Gora/Chicago Tribune)
Spectators watch the track at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney on April 20, 1972. (Phil Mascione/Chicago Tribune)
Responding to a heavy whip from Bill Beckley, Teddy Rip (6) edges Apollo Fifteen in the featured $20,000 Suburban Downs Inaugural Pacing Series Final at Hawthorne Race Course on Feb. 15, 1976. The winner was timed at 2:00. (Chicago Tribune archive)
A firefighter works at an early morning fire at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney in November 1978. (Ernie Cox Jr./Chicago Tribune)
Maxwell G. (9) splashing across the finish line at Hawthorne Race Course on May 6, 1976. (Phil Mascione/Chicago Tribune)
Managing Director Robert F. Carey, track announcer Phil Georgeff and Thomas Carey look over a model of the new Hawthorne Race Course in April 1979. (Walter Kale/Chicago Tribune)
A spectator examines a form sheet at Hawthorne Race Course on Jan. 23, 1981, in Stickney. (Bob Fila/Chicago Tribune)
Ron Marsh drives Tiny Lassie in the first harness race at Hawthorne Race Course in January 1985. (Bob Langer/Chicago Tribune)
Henry Spillers checks out his racing form at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney on Dec. 8, 1994. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)
Thomas Carey, president and general manager of Hawthorne Race Course, looks over the improvements made at the track on June 25, 1998. (Carl Wagner/Chicago Tribune)
A racehorse in its stable at Leonard Stables in Harvard on March 5, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Tim Carey, president and general manager, and Tom Carey, president emeritus, at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney on March 4, 2009. (Tom Van Dyke/Chicago Tribune)
Farrier Donnie Nolen puts horseshoes on a racehorse at Leonard Stables in Harvard on March 5, 2024. Harness racing owners, trainers and drivers are pushing for state lawmakers to take away Hawthorne racetrack’s veto power over new racinos in the Chicago area. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Emil Stipsky, of Chicago, looks over the racing form after the results of the race are posted on the screen behind him at Hawthorne Race Course on July 3, 1999. (Terry Harris/Chicago Tribune)
Leonard Stables in Harvard on March 5, 2024. Harness racing owners and trainers have been pushing for state lawmakers to take away Hawthorne racetrack’s veto power over new racinos in the Chicago area. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
President and General Manager of Hawthorne Race Course, Tim Carey, left, and Playing In The Park official, Rick Heidner, speak before the Illinois Racing Board on Sept. 17, 2019, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Harness driver and trainer Casey Leonard at Leonard Stables in Harvard on March 5, 2024. Harness racing owners, trainers and drivers are pushing for state lawmakers to take away Hawthorne racetrack’s veto power over new racinos in the Chicago area. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Horses are escorted in the paddock on April 6, 2024, at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)
Jockey Victor Santiago rides a horse named Mkar The Fast onto the racetrack for the first race of the day on April 6, 2024, at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)
Horses warming up on the Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney on Oct. 9, 2013. (Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune)
Alexis Centeno, a jockey, on a horse named Hunters Ghost poses for a photo against the backdrop of the partially demolished grandstands after winning the first race of the day on April 6, 2024, at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)
Horses run in the third race of the day on April 6, 2024, at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)
Horses on the track on April 6, 2024, at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)
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The view of the paddock at Hawthorne Race Course in 1932 in Stickney. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)
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A look back at Hawthorne Race Course's more than 135 years of hosting the sport of kings in west suburban Stickey.
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