Sportsman's Park (Hawthorne) Horse Racing Track in Illinois

Sportsman's Park (Hawthorne) Horse Racing Track in Illinois

Located between Laramie Avenue and Cicero Avenue, Sportsman’s Park is a great horseracing track. Also known as Hawthorne, Sportsman’s Park is the home of the renowned Illinois Derby. This great stakes race is one of the main preparation races of the Kentucky Derby and the grounds at Hawthorne share some similarities to those in Kentucky.

The legacy of Sportsman’s Park all started in 1890 when a gentleman by the name of Edward Corrigan purchased 119 acres of land in the Cicero Township. Now long afterwards, he began building the grandstand and just one-year later Hawthorne was opened to the public with a five-race card. It is estimated that some 6 000 individuals attended that first day which shows just how popular the track was. In 1902 the grandstand was razed to the ground yet Hawthorn was rebuilt quick enough to be opened for the next session of races which took place the very next month. This minor setback certainly hasn’t affected the tracks reputation and besides enjoying a fairly long race season each year, Sportsman’s Park also hosts a number of harness racing meets during the summer months.

Today Sportsman’s Park has two tracks. The main track is one mile in length while the turf course is roughly seven furlongs and 148 ft. The homestretch is 1320 ft in length and there are 2 100 stalls and seventeen barns. There are fourteen concession stands and eleven bars. The Gold Cup Room has enough space for 1 006 people and the Turf Club can cater to 275 individuals. The food is always great and the atmosphere is enjoyable.

Sportsman’s Park also has simulcast racing which is available all year-round. This is a popular choice with locals when racing season ends. The track is also sometimes used as an auto racing oval which also draws large crowds and plenty of friendly faces.