Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap

The Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race for older horses, traditionally run at Hawthorne Race Course in Illinois. Once considered one of the premier Midwestern stakes races, the event was last run in 2017 and has since been discontinued.

Race Information

• • Location: Hawthorne Race Course, Cicero, Illinois, United States.
• • Qualification: Three-year-olds and upward.
• • Surface: Dirt track.
• • Distance: 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs).
• • Purse: The purse reached up to $500,000 during its final run.
• • Status: The race previously held Grade II status before being downgraded to Grade III in its later years.
• • Significance: Historically regarded as one of the most prestigious handicap races in the Midwest, often attracting high-class older runners.

Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap History

The Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap was first run in 1918 and for decades stood as the signature event at Hawthorne Race Course. The race achieved Grade II status in 1984 and maintained a prominent place on the national racing calendar through much of the 20th century.

Due to financial challenges, purse restructuring, and broader changes within Illinois racing, the event experienced interruptions in the 2010s. The final confirmed running took place in 2017. The race has not appeared on official Hawthorne stakes schedules in subsequent seasons, including 2025, indicating that it is no longer being held.

Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap Winners

The Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap produced several notable winners throughout its long history, including Exploit (2000), who later won the Belmont Stakes, and Cigar (1995), who used the race as part of his legendary championship campaign. The final edition in 2017 was won by Scuba, marking the last chapter of a race that once played a major role in American dirt racing.

For current racing schedules and active stakes events, visitors can consult the official Hawthorne Race Course website.