How Far Chicago Racing Has Fallen
Hawthorne is down to just two days a week - Thursdays and Sundays.
One bright spot though: 7 1/2-furlong turf races have returned this year after a lengthy absence. One such race was held on May 18th, the first day of turf racing at Hawthorne in 2023, and had a nine-horse field. The other, with a 10-horse field, was run on Thursday the 25th.
Since the rail was out 20 feet in both of these races, they bear the official designation "About 7 1/2 Furlongs."
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