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Hawthorne Race Course

A former veterinarian at Hawthorne, Christine Tuma, filed a federal lawsuit against the track and the Illinois Racing Board. The suit alleged that the track knowingly raced sick, injured or lame horses against Tuma’s advice. She also alleged that Hawthorne fired her in retaliation for whistleblowing against this activity.

The lawsuit was previously reported by Chicago NPR affiliate WBEZ-FM.

Defendants in the suit include Hawthorne, the Illinois Racing Board, Hawthorne director of racing Jim Miller, assistant general manager John Walsh, racing secretary Dave White, veterinarians Beth Beuchler and Dawn Folker-Calderon, and state stewards Thomas Kelley and John Eddy. Hawthorne and the Illinois Racing Board have disputed the allegations.

Tuma alleged that she tried to scratch over 80 horses as lame and have them placed on the veterinarian’s list, only to have those scratches overruled by another veterinarian or replaced by scratches as sick, which require less oversight for the horses to return. She alleged that this was done to fill races and increase revenue for the track. Tuma also alleged that she was fired just before a visit from regulators.

Hawthorne and the Illinois Racing Board both released statements to WBEZ denying the claims.

“Tuma’s lawsuit is false and misguided, and Hawthorne will vigorously contest it in court,” Hawthorne said in its statement. “Besides defaming Hawthorne, the oldest family-owned race course in North America, with an unmatched record of safety and integrity, Tuma is using the legal system to settle professional disagreements with other, more experienced and accomplished veterinarians at the track and the Illinois Racing Board. These professionals have dedicated their careers at Hawthorne and the racing board to performing with the highest degree of professionalism.”

“The Illinois Racing Board takes all allegations of improper conduct, horse welfare and racetrack safety very seriously,” agency executive director Domenic DiCera said. “When we were made aware of some of these allegations in March 2023, we immediately looked into the matter and alerted federal horse-racing authorities. We found no credible evidence to support any allegations of wrongdoing at the time, nor have federal authorities made us aware of any substantiated allegations.”