Hawthorne to Undergo $500 Million Renovation Project

On October 14th, 2008, Hawthorne Race Course President Tim Carey has scheduled a Wednesday morning announcement to launch plans for a $500 million redevelopment project at the Stickney racing track should the Illinois Gaming Board approves the gaming license application for the state's tenth casino facility. Carey submitted the bid by Tuesday's 5:00 p.m. deadline.

Known as the Hawthorne Gaming, the principal gaming partners in the bid are the Estate of Thomas Carey, the proprietor of the land and racetrack and two developers from Illinois, Joe Canfora from Merit Management and Ed Pilarz of Altium Development. The Champions Resort and Casino plan calls for massive redevelopment of dormant portions of the racing track grandstand to make way for a forty thousand square foot casino. The casino will offer slot machines to its customers aside from other casino games.

Racing would continue during and after the redevelopment of the track. Carey said that they really need to do something to improve racing conditions in the state. He added that this will change the state of racing in Illinois and that they will be abler

Sunday, 16 November 2008
Darren G. Strachan