Hawthorne Race Course has resolved compliance issues that previously led the Illinois Racing Board to withhold its 2026 racing and off-track betting licenses, allowing the track to resume operations for both Thoroughbred and harness racing meets. The track has also received licenses for simulcasting and its advance deposit wagering platform, Club Hawthorne. Despite the license renewals and the reopening of the track and its OTBs, concerns persist among Illinois horsemen regarding financial stability, as there have been recent incidents of returned checks, which the track attributes to processing errors.

Additionally, the long-anticipated casino project at Hawthorne, announced in 2019 following Illinois legislation permitting gaming at racetracks, remains stalled. Although parts of the grandstand were closed in preparation for construction, no progress has been made, and the track’s management has yet to provide an update on the project, despite earlier expectations for an announcement in late 2025. This uncertainty adds to the ongoing apprehension about the future of racing at Hawthorne.