Illinois approves dark-day change

The Illinois Racing Board on Tuesday granted the National Jockey Club permission to switch dark days next season.

The National Jockey Club, which now runs its spring meet at Hawthorne with the old Sportsman's Park having been closed, was dark Mondays and Tuesdays during 2005, but will race on those days and go dark Wednesday and Thursday next year. The NJC and Fairmount Park, which has a concurrent meet and also races Monday and Tuesday, will coordinate post times to avoid overlapping races.

The board also granted Hawthorne's request to vacate its awarded race dates on Dec. 24 in 2005 and 2006.