The Illinois Racing Board approved Tuesday a Hawthorne Race Course request to conduct live thoroughbred racing six days a week for the remainder of its 1995 meet.
Like Sportsman’s in the spring and Arlington in the summer, Hawthorne was scheduled to run only five programs a week this year.
“The horsemen felt there were a lot of categories not being raced with the five-day week,” said track President Tom Carey. “Because of the number of horses available, horsemen and management felt it is prudent to race six days a week.
“Realistically, this will have a little impact on field size, which is averaging 9.8 horses per race. But I don’t think it will have a major impact because of the categories of horses not previously being raced.”
Carey also said fans would prefer to see live racing on Wednesdays rather than exclusively full-card simulcasting.
Hawthorne will race its first Wednesday card Oct. 18. The board’s decision added 10 dates to Hawthorne’s schedule.