Hawthorne's meet draws to a close on Saturday afternoon. However, before racing in Chicago goes on hiatus for two months, I have a full-card look at Saturday's closing day card at Picks and Ponderings.
Picks and Ponderings: Hawthorne Race 8 Preview: Super High Five Mandatory Payout
Today is the final race day of the year at Hawthorne, meaning all bets must pay out. Thus, there's $52,170 to seed the pool of the Super High Five -- and here's my analysis of today's High Five race at Hawthorne!
Horseplayer Confessions: Just Say No To Lifetime Losers
Over at Brisnet, I make my first visit to the Horseplayer Confession booth, and think about a stern reminder not to play horses who don't win races.
Picks and Ponderings: Irish Marvel Impresses in the Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante
Two-year-old Illinois-bred fillies took centre stage at Hawthorne today, and Irish Marvel stood alone. In my latest at Picks and Ponderings, looks back at the race!
Picks and Ponderings: 2018 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante Preview
A field of six Illinois-bred juvenile fillies has entered to contest the Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante: in my latest at Picks and Ponderings, see who I think has the best shot to be the belle of the ball!
Frontier Red
Frontier Red a bay more brown than blood when shrouded by sweat and twilight only occasionally sparkling when she passes under the burning floodlights most of the time the winner trots back easily, head held high a quarter-mile victory stroll she laboured back, dragging her empty rear hooves behind her hanging her head, bobbing it... Continue Reading →
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association: Harness racing is all in the family for trainer-breeder Brian Judy
For my latest for the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, I sat down to talk with trainer-breeder Brian Judy, whose Frontier Elsa has been rounding into beautiful form at Hawthorne this summer. We talked about how he and his father got into the game, about his stable of homebreds,a nd about his training at his family's farm... Continue Reading →
Fox Valley Gemini keeps on winning
Fox Valley Gemini is a star. The Illinois-bred three-year-old pacer is undefeated in his fifteen-race career, and is going for win number 16 tonight in the third leg of the Carey at Hawthorne. In my latest for the Illinois Harness Horseman's Association, I look at his win streak, a few other harness racing win streaks... Continue Reading →
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association: Laurie Price-Chapman Stays Connected To Dad
In the eighth race at Hawthorne on May 10, Allaboutme Hanover drove clear to win by two and a half lengths. It was his first win of the year, and his third since entering the care of owner Laurie Price-Chapman and her late father Duncan Price. When they first got Allaboutme Hanover, there was... Continue Reading →
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association: Work Day Morning at Hawthorne
For my latest piece for the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, I headed out to Hawthorne on a day with no racing...and yet, it was still a day with plenty of horses, and plenty of action. Relive my morning right here.
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association: Amanda Mills and Silver Romeo Team Up
This summer, I'm back to writing about harness racing at Hawthorne! And, in my first article of the summer meet, I talk to trainer Amanda Mills about her career in harness racing, and about a big, stunning grey in her barn, Silver Romeo.
Picks and Ponderings: Dandy Gal, Goneghost, Recount Win Closing Day Stakes at Hawthorne
Hawthorne's fifteen-day spring meet drew to a close today with three stakes races for Illinois-registered horses. It was a red-and-green-letter day for the triumvirate of owner William Stiritz, trainer Scott Becker, and jockey Chris Emigh. The three combined for two stakes wins today: Dandy Gal in the Third Chance Handicap, and Goneghost in the Milwaukee Avenue Handicap. Both... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Older Illinois Horses (and Colour Guard) Take the Spotlight Saturday at Hawthorne
Saturday is closing day of the all-too-brief Hawthorne spring meet. After Saturday, the Thoroughbreds migrate north to Arlington, the main track surface at Hawthorne gets swapped out again, and standardbreds take centre stage at 35th and Cicero. However, closing day features a slate of stakes races for older Illinois-registered horses. The card includes a pair... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Get Your Piece of Wednesday’s Superfecta Carryover at Hawthorne
...more surprising was that no one who played the superfecta even had Silver Saver, Starship Brooklyn, Waddle, and Midnite In Miami in that order. So, there's a $9,693 carryover in the superfecta pool. It goes right into the superfecta pool for Wednesday's opener, and any and all players with a winning ticket can reap the benefits.... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Jean Elizabeth Overcomes Bad Break, Remains Perfect in Pretty Jenny
For a race in which she so easily towered on paper once her stablemate scratched, the start of the 2018 Pretty Jenny Stakes could hardly have been more difficult for Jean Elizabeth. Unraced since a tour de force victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Hawthorne last October, she was fractious in her long-awaited... Continue Reading →
