Final Hawthorne Eviction Date Set for Aug. 31

All backstretch residents have been ordered off the property of bankrupt Hawthorne Race Course effective at 9 a.m. local time Aug. 31, ending the final presence of live horse racing in the Chicago area. Federal bankruptcy Judge Timothy Barnes issued the eviction order Aug. 21. He denied requests from track officials to move up the eviction deadline from Aug. 31, a date earlier agreed to by Hawthorne, to Aug. 28. The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association strongly opposed that suggestion. Hawthorne also had asked Barnes to authorize the use of the United States Marshals Service to perform forcible evictions of any backstretch workers refusing to leave by the deadline. Barnes' order did not mention the Marshals Service, saying only Hawthorne "may take action" to effect removals. The ITHA said at an Aug. 19 hearing that it has worked out moving plans with all but seven backstretch workers and was continuing efforts with those few. Attorney Kevin Morse said at an earlier hearing that some longtime residents are "unwilling to face reality" that their homes, jobs, and way of life are ending abruptly. "We have made it clear there will be no racing at Hawthorne in 2027," he said Aug. 12. "There are some who are still holding out hope." Barnes, while praising the ITHA's efforts, said the backstretch workers are Hawthorne's responsibility and ordered the track to provide the court a person-by-person rundown of moving plans in advance of an Aug. 26 status hearing. "It's unfortunate in today's society that you tell people something, they don't listen," he said. "I need to know what is happening to these people, what the effect of my order is." Hawthorne filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Feb. 27. While the track ran an abbreviated summer race meeting, a search for a buyer turned up only one bid, from a Delaware-registered limited liability company offering $90 million for the suburban Chicago real estate. There were no bids to continue racing or to construct a racino on the property. The last races were run July 19. Closing on the sale is set for Sept. 1, pending conditions—one of which is removal of all horses and residents from the backstretch. With Hawthorne's demise, Fairmount Park in downstate Collinsville is the only remaining Illinois track.