(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A federal lawsuit accuses Hawthorne Race Course of allowing dozens of horses to compete when they weren't healthy enough to run, as well as firing a veterinarian for trying to keep the horses off the track.
Dr. Christine Tuma said Hawthorne, which is located in suburban Stickney, fired her in July 2023 after she complained to state and federal regulators that the track and the chief veterinarian of the Illinois Racing Board regularly overturned her decisions that horses were unfit to run.
Haskell Garfinkel, one of the attorneys representing Tuma, said it was all about the money.
“They put these horses in the race against the medical judgment of our client in order to increase the number of races, as well as the total amount of wagers made on the races,” Garfinkel said. “These were sick and injured horses who had no business being in these races … from an ethical standpoint, an animal cruelty standpoint, as well as a legal standpoint.”
The lawsuit claims at least 21 horses died or were euthanized after they raced at Hawthorne or took part in racing-related activities.
Hawthorne released a statement and called Tuma's claims “false and misguided.” The statement also said Hawthorne has the “utmost regard for the safety of horses.”
The Illinois Racing Board said it found no credible evidence to support any allegations of wrongdoing.
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