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Ominous skies loomed over Hawthorne Race Course much of the day on Saturday (Oct. 14) evening but the rains cleared as the track was listed as good for Night of Champions. Twelve stakes finals were contested as the best in the state of Illinois lined up with nearly $1.2 million in purses on the line.
The rain certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of any of the Illinois Conceived and Foaled harness racing pacers and trotters who vied in 12 events totaling $1,175,000 on Saturday night, Oct. 14, known as “The Night of Champions.” Starter Adam Brownly got each race off to a near perfect start over a track surface listed as
The top Illinois-bred horses will be competing for more than $1 million in purses on Saturday, Oct. 14 as 12 stakes events will be contested during Night of Champions at Hawthorne.
With the temperatures rising in the Chicagoland area, the racing action heated up as well at Hawthorne as the Night of Champions series races kicked off. With races filling well, additional races were carded each night at Hawthorne with wins spread amongst many drivers and trainers. The first of the Night of Champions series races was held last Friday as leg one of the Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial, for Illinois-bred three-year-old male pacers took place. A wide-open field of ten was led by lukewarm favourite Ryans Loan Shark. Leaving for the lead was Ideal Big Guy, clearing f...