Hawthorne Race Course, a historic horse racing track in Illinois, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 1, 2026, aiming to restructure its debt and attract new investors to save the struggling local horse racing industry. This move follows the Illinois Racing Board’s suspension of the track’s harness racing license due to financial difficulties, with horse owners, trainers, and breeders unpaid since August and over $580,000 in bounced checks reported.

Tim Carey, president and CEO of Hawthorne and a member of the family that has owned the track for four generations, acknowledged the hardship but emphasized that reorganization is necessary to support Illinois horsemen, employees, and their families. The filing represents an effort to stabilize the track’s operations and preserve its legacy amid ongoing financial challenges.