Qualified buyers have until June 26 to submit bids for Hawthorne Race Course as the historic Illinois racetrack seeks a buyer or investor during its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Hilco Global is running the sale through its real estate division alongside Province LLC. The offering covers both the operating business and the real estate tied to the property.

Located in Stickney, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, Hawthorne has been part of Illinois racing since 1891. The site covers roughly 108 acres and includes around 1.12 million square feet of structures. Among them are a grandstand, clubhouse, barns, residential facilities and support buildings with capacity for more than 2,100 horses.

Hawthorne sale effort advances toward June deadline

The marketing effort is being presented as a dual-track opportunity. Potential buyers can pursue Hawthorne as an active racing and gaming operation or consider redeveloping the land for industrial uses.

The track holds several Illinois licenses and entitlements, including rights connected to a possible casino development with up to 2,000 gaming positions, a master sports wagering license, the state’s only harness racing organizational license and an off-track betting network operating 10 locations. Hawthorne also continues to offer Thoroughbred and harness racing, simulcast betting, pari-mutuel wagering and food and beverage services.

At the same time, Hilco and Province say the property’s heavy industrial zoning, large footprint and transportation access could attract logistics, manufacturing and distribution developers. The site sits alo...