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Illinois’ lone prep race for the Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday when Hawthorne Race Course hosts the 54th running of the Grade 3 Illinois Derby.
The last nine winners of the event all went on to compete in “the most exciting two minutes in sports” at Churchill Downs in Louisville. This year’s Kentucky Derby will run May 7.
Needless to say, the stakes will be high Saturday at Hawthorne.
“This tends to be our biggest day of the year,” said Dakota Shultz, who is involved with community relations for the park. “There are lots of other prep races on that day and Hawthorne is fortunate to have something of this magnitude.”
Last year’s purse of $250,000 has been increased to $300,000. There are different ways fans can take in the experience. For $50, they can upgrade to the luxury room known as the Turf Club. The package includes a food buffet, bar service and live music.
“This weekend is very important for racing,” said assistant general manager and the track’s on-air television host Jim Miller. “It brings a national perspective to a local race.”
The weekend’s festivities begin on Friday. In conjunction with The Loop radio station, the track will also host the Fourth Annual Rock Girl Derby Party at 2 p.m. on the main floor of the grandstands.
The event also will feature a new contest. Beginning on Friday and ending on April 30, Hawthorne will host a raffle where the winner receives a $5,000 bet for the Kentucky Derby. Last season, the Breeders’ Cup participated in a similar promotion and ended up attracting 6,000 entries. More sweepstakes information is also available at facebook.com/clubhawthorne.
“Last year’s winner ended up claiming $3,800,” Shultz said. “The idea started through a promotion that CNBC did two years ago for the Kentucky Derby with a $100,000 wage.”
Illinois’ lone prep race for the Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday when Hawthorne Race Course hosts the 54th running of the Grade 3 Illinois Derby.
The last nine winners of the event all went on to compete in “the most exciting two minutes in sports” at Churchill Downs in Louisville. This year’s Kentucky Derby will run May 7.
Needless to say, the stakes will be high Saturday at Hawthorne.
“This tends to be our biggest day of the year,” said Dakota Shultz, who is involved with community relations for the park. “There are lots of other prep races on that day and Hawthorne is fortunate to have something of this magnitude.”
Last year’s purse of $250,000 has been increased to $300,000. There are different ways fans can take in the experience. For $50, they can upgrade to the luxury room known as the Turf Club. The package includes a food buffet, bar service and live music.
“This weekend is very important for racing,” said assistant general manager and the track’s on-air television host Jim Miller. “It brings a national perspective to a local race.”
The weekend’s festivities begin on Friday. In conjunction with The Loop radio station, the track will also host the Fourth Annual Rock Girl Derby Party at 2 p.m. on the main floor of the grandstands.
The event also will feature a new contest. Beginning on Friday and ending on April 30, Hawthorne will host a raffle where the winner receives a $5,000 bet for the Kentucky Derby. Last season, the Breeders’ Cup participated in a similar promotion and ended up attracting 6,000 entries. More sweepstakes information is also available at facebook.com/clubhawthorne.
“Last year’s winner ended up claiming $3,800,” Shultz said. “The idea started through a promotion that CNBC did two years ago for the Kentucky Derby with a $100,000 wage.”
