Email from Tim Carey of Hawthorne

[careless hal]

Here we go again.

 
GREETINGS:
 
As you likely know, the Illinois horseracing industry may be coming to a crossroads.  The state legislature will soon vote on a Gambling Expansion package which we're hopeful will allow slots at race tracks. 
 
Such legislation will have a tremendous impact on racing at Hawthorne.  Not only would we increase purses by 400% we would embark on a $150 MILLION renovation of our grandstands with new restaurants, party rooms, parking garages and state-of-the-art amenities for handicappers.
 
But the benefits of this legislation will go far beyond Hawthorne, creating over 20,000 NEW jobs in Illinois, generating over $1.5 BILLION in new taxes and licensing fees and creating nearly $3.5 BILLION in economic impact to the state.
 
Hawthorne has joined the Illinois Revenue & Jobs Alliance whose mission is to pass this legislation.  And we invite you to join us:
Send an email to the Governor (click HERE, we've made it easy to do)
Contact your local legislator (you can look-up their contact info HERE)
Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
Sign-up for email alerts on news and quick calls-to-action
Simply visit IllinoisJobsAlliance.org to learn more
But most importantly, tell your friends and family to do the same.  Several independent polls show that Illinois voters overwhelmingly support gambling expansion--particularly the addition of slots at race tracks.
 
On behalf of everyone at Hawthorne, thank you for your continued support!
 
Sincerely,
 
Tim Carey
President & General Manager
 

[old and slow]

Tim gets it...

[pope of vegas]

   Carey's   

[Just Saying]

I've posted this before: The Carey family are the best friends IL harness horsemen have as track owners. I wish they had the Lion's share of the harness dates, and others had to suck hind tit. I was always treated with respect when I raced at Hawthorne.

Elsewhere... not so much.

[mo doc n]

Tim gets it...

How did you get home before me?
You still had to get Kelli out?

[pezz97]

I got that same email


If they had harness dates in the summer, I would be there every weekend. it is only a 20 minute ride for me and to be outside, On track, is always the best time for me. But I don't think it will ever happen again. Maywood is also 20 minutes, but its a half and I won't play it

[mo doc n]

I got that same email


If they had harness dates in the summer, I would be there every weekend. it is only a 20 minute ride for me and to be outside, On track, is always the best time for me. But I don't think it will ever happen again. Maywood is also 20 minutes, but its a half and I won't play it

Would you go if we built another Aurora Downs ??
20 minute ride the opposite way..............................eh?

[old and slow]

How did you get home before me?
You still had to get Kelli out?

Got Kelli done and flew home Air Deb

[pezz97]

Would you go if we built another Aurora Downs ??
20 minute ride the opposite way..............................eh?

[NIATROSS]

Would you go if we built another Aurora Downs ??
20 minute ride the opposite way..............................eh?

The location makes a lot of sense but without slots and having to battle the Johnston's who would build it ?

[careless hal]

Would you go if we built another Aurora Downs ??
20 minute ride the opposite way..............................eh?

Lot of good memories of Aurora Downs.  When I was in graduate school in Dekalb, I often took in the cards there.  It was COOOLD in winter

[srotagtbs]

I seriously doubt that Hawthorne will be able to get Maiden Special Weight purses to $120K, which is even higher than New York right now 

Of course, he could be talking about Harness purses going up 400%, which is plausible given how far they have fallen.

[Just Saying]

Of course, he could be talking about Harness purses going up 400%, which is plausible given how far they have fallen.

I raced a pacer at Hawthorne in '89-'90 in a $10k claimer, and we went for $10,000.
That's how far things have fallen in IL.

[pope of vegas]

   Nw 4000/5 went for $8000.

[Danville]

I raced a pacer at Hawthorne in '89-'90 in a $10k claimer, and we went for $10,000.
That's how far things have fallen in IL.

We have a couple win pictures taken at Hawthorne I think in the late 80's or very early 90's. Had a General Star mare who started at the nw4000L5 and went for $9,800 then later for nw8000L6 going for $11,500. How times have changed !! She had started her Illinois career at Fairmount and later QCD in the Tommy Simmons barn, racing in the NLpreferred for $3500 at QCD.
The good old days to be sure.