Hawthorne shifts Wednesday, Thursday post times due to heat

Hawthorne has adjusted its first post on Wednesday and Thursday to 5:50 p.m. EDT instead of its typical 3:30 p.m. EDT start time. Hawthorne pushed the post times later because of extreme heat in the forecast for both days.

The post delay was announced in a Tweet by Jim Miller, director of publicity and racing analyst at the track. The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association also sent text notifications to Hawthorne-based horsemen informing them of the change in post times, saying that "new Lasix and post times will be distributed" in the future.

The National Weather Service predicts partly sunny weather and a high near 93 degrees in Stickney, Ill., on Wednesday, with the heat index reaching 97 degrees. Thursday, the NWS calls for sunny weather and a high near 94 degrees, with the heat index reaching 101 degrees.

Hawthorne carded a eight-race card for Wednesday, headlined by the $75,000 Jean Elizabeth Handicap. The 6 1/2-furlong dirt sprint for fillies and mares aged 3 and up drew eight horses, including 9-5 morning-line favorite Oeuvre. An 11-time winner trained by Chris Block, Oeuvre beat state-breds last out in the Third Chance Stakes but also won three stakes at Fair Grounds from December to February.

Thursday's seven-race card at Hawthorne features the $75,000 Work All Week Handicap, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for horses aged 3 and up. The 5-2 morning-line favorite is Larry Rivelli trainee Tape to Tape, an eight-time winner who most recently finished third as the odds-on favorite in the Karl Boyes Stakes on July 3 at Presque Isle Downs.

Also because of extreme heat in the forecast, Canterbury Park announced Sunday that it would start racing at 8 p.m. EDT instead of its regularly scheduled 6 p.m. EDT.