Hawthorne Race Course

We were trying to come up with something special for celebrating my husband’s 70^th birthday. We haven’t been to a race track in a very long time and decided this would be perfect. We got special reserved seating at the club level and had a wonderful time being served by our very attentive waiter, Edward. He made sure we never had empty glasses! They had a special on wings (Sundays) and we chowed down on heaps of them throughout the race.
By making arrangements ahead of time, we were invited to the winner’s circle after one of the races to meet the winning horse and jockey. To top that all off, they took a picture of all of us with these winners! A wonderful keepsake was created for my husband using the photo and presented it to him before we left, he now has it on his bulletin board.
Oh yea … we didn’t win any money :-(But we didn’t really care, it was so much fun :-)

An exciting way to spend an afternoon. The roar of the crowd and the sound of the horses spinning out of the turn. If this don’t get your blood going, nothing will.
Balmoral Park, CLOSED…
Maywood Park, CLOSED.
This is the last «regular guy» horse track in Chicago land area.

I lived at this place half my life what can u say about it alot of the people have passed. I miss the old days never be the same.

It’s pathetic that people are so short sighted. Sorry if the starvation of a feral cat colony is becoming a PR problem for the race course. It should be– this is a business that is SUPPOSED to be dependent upon the care and welfare of animals. They are «working with» a local cat shelter to set up feeding stations… Which is great but not well executed as they have too few «feeding stations» for the cats onsite.
Obviously they are hoping that the cats have no food sources just in time for winter.
Again, this is a HORSE racetrack. The owners of this establishment should step up and help these animals –it is the «humane» thing to do for an owner of an animal– based sport.
Pretty telling as to what their real concern is.

Don’t give this place ANY business!

A great place to watch ‘real dirt racing, still live, near the city, easily accessible, with fine food, great LG t’v’s, wonderful racing personalities AND added turf racing, that is affordable to families, seniors, near CTA, Metra, with low admission, some FREE parking and daily shuttle bus. SAFE and secure and well lit. Many p.m. options! TPD

Went today. Illinois Derby was the 8^th race, hence the big crowd, as well as WGN’s and others radio stations’ presence. Hawthorne has renovated some areas, and it appears as if they now take credit cards at the bars. Nice, but whatever. I like this place. I liked it last year, and the year before. And I like it today. Employees are friendly and down to earth. Great place to watch thoroughbreds run, renovations or not.
Went to customer service to check on the number of points I’ve earned on my Hawthorne card. Too funny… righteous man in in his Sears suit coat was issuing a very long complaint to the Hawthorne employee, whose expression was increasingly glazed. I mean LONG, and without a breath in between various disappointments. God love her, because 10 seconds in I wanted to tell the guy to STFU and enjoy the day for what it was. (I actually had to shove him over, verbally, to speak to the other employee.) «And then. our waitress took FIVE minutes to bring our drinks… and THEN…» And then what? She didn’t bow down to your vast superiority? She didn’t weep tears of joy and admiration for your Miller Lite orders? She didn’t appreciate your Sears jacket or artfully arranged thinning hair?” Really, dude, what the F*** do you want? This guy was talking nonstop for at least 7 minutes (before I left the area)…that poor girl. I have enough points for a windbreaker, by the way, but am saving them up for a hoodie. I suspect the complainer is still there, explaining to that poor girl that he deserves better service… I’ll have those points by the time he’s done.

Hawthorne takes me back in time to my high school days (late 80’s) when we would go all the time — it’s the place I fell in love with horse racing… I’ve since been to many different tracks all over the country… and like your 1^st car — it still holds a special place in my heart… is it old? Yes — a little run down? Yes — but it’s still a great place to go if you get a jones to go bet the ponies in the winter — last year, we got a table in a special section for basically free (had to order $ 15 of food and drinks per person… OK…) — plus it’s run by an alum of MC…

This is only for their party room. I was here for an event and very unimpressed with the event room. It seemed old and not very pristine. It was hard to hear the PA system and the food was only average.

My boyfriend’s uncle invited us to go with them ’cause they had a horse, racing that day. I’ve never seen an actual horse race so I was ecstatic to go. My poor man was sick the day we got invited, I didn’t think we would make it. Thankfully he had me to take care of him. LOL!
He got better and we made it. I like that you didn’t need to be in to cold to watch the horse race! The area is enclosed in glass windows and there is an option for you to actually be outside. Watching the race is like being in a sportbar, yep, drinks and food served to your table while watching the race and hoping the horse you bet would win! Or were we on a VIP?
9 horse race, I did not win any. I had fun tho.

This place is basically a dump. Décor is outdated and food is horrible. For some reason, I bid on a day here at a charity auction a few months ago. This package was valued at $ 200, (i paid $ 75) but was more like 30 bucks, and this is being generous.
First, the lady at the gates was rude as hell when directing us where to go, I can not understand why she was so hostile. Bad day? No excuse. Next, half of the elevators were out of order. And when I asked where the stairs were, I was instructed I had to use the elevator… Ok hope there isn’t a fire while I’m here…
We get to the 2^nd floor and get seated. The waiter (that has worked there for 7 years) told us that the only white wines were Cabernet and Pinot Grigio. Really? Get w the program dude and learn your stuff. I tend to get tanked on Sunday afternoons and this guys knowledge of the drinks was definitely getting in my way of doing so. We sit through a horrible lunch, like 4 things on the buffet that were dried out and nasty. If I would have paid with my hard earned money instead of my 75 $ gift certificate i won at the auction I would have been furious for the lack of quality. Drinks were not included on our certificate, no biggie, but then the server put a gratuity of like $ 21. Really? That’s cool I get it, you’re worried u might not get a tip, but it was a little extreme, I woulda thrown the guy a twenty either way. But oh well. The only reason there are 2 stars are because the horses were beautiful and the actual races were cool.
And part of the package i won was to include a winners circle photo. when i asked the server how to get this picture he tells me some BS that they will call me on the loud speaker and ask me to come down. it never happened. Although, this server didn’t know jack, and the place was not even close to being organized enough to actually execute this photo op. Save your frustration and hard earned money and check out a dif race course. Never again. Total waste of a day.

Came hear on an outing with the bar I hang at it was like $ 65 dollars per person and it was all you can eat and all you can drink (top shelf). We were seated in the Cigar room which was really nice you had you own bar and the food was set up right in the room. The food was pretty good and the alcohol was even better but all in all I had a great time and I can’t wait to go to next years outing. Did I mention it was my first time there didn’t know how to bet but caught on quick… My husband on the other hand won like $ 330 bucks… Lucky

Beetles cover band? Check.
Drunk Bukowski-​like dudes? Check.
Old chain-​smoking women with Hollywood Casino hats? Check.
$ 1 hot dogs and $ 1 Beers? Check
People yelling at horses? Check.
Awesome??? Obviously.
Check this place in Cicero out for an alternative night out. It’s something different and can be surprisingly cheap — assuming you are not addicted to gambling.
Sadly the track was near empty — support a historic sport by placing a bet at the actual course… instead of your local OTB…

You’ll find the typical horse track cast of characters here, salty old dudes, drunken douchies and men in miniature. (There are also some solid folks too and yes sometimes I fall in the drunken, albeit far less douchie category) This track sports little to no pageantry. The staff is polite and reasonably attentive. The guy selling pens and programs at the lower level entrance will sell you a pen that doesn’t work, but will also exchange it for one that does if asked. Anyone who has been to half a dozen tracks has probably seen far better and much worse. The facilities are dated, but clean. This place hits the spot for handicappers jonesin’ to play the ponies when Arlington isn’t in session, or you’re not of a mind make the hike. This is not a location that CTA serves well, so by car is your best option. In any case make your bets early.