No one saw this coming and anyone who tells you they did is a liar. What i mean is if 15 or 20 years ago if someone told you the Carey family will still own Hawthorne in 2022 and be the only Chicago area track still racing outlasting Sportsman Park, Balmoral, Maywood Park, And Arlington Park. Can't happen. No chance.
Hawthorne always got the worst of the racing dates and always got shit on by those in power. Duchossois at Arlington, Bidwell and Johnson family with Sportsman, Maywood and Balmoral all had more political pull and bribery power than Hawthorne.
Carey family has to be absolutely loving this after all these years being treated like a red headed step child. All the above mentioned, spent untold millions first trying to stop casino gambling. Then when the casinos got in, then spending millions more over the next 20 years attempting to get slots at the tracks. Here we are with Hawthorne going to be the only surviving track and with a full blown casino.
That is why i always remind myself to never say never.