In 1890, Edward Corrigan, a Chicago businessman and horseman who owned the 1890 Kentucky Derby winner, Riley (by Longfellow), bought 119 acres (0.48 km2) of land in Cicero and started constructing a grandstand for a new racecourse.

In 1902, the grandstand burned to the ground, which moved all racing to the Harlem racetrack in Chicago.

The field was used briefly by pioneer aviators Victor and Allan Haines Loughead in 1910 to fly a powered Montgomery glider and a Curtiss pusher.

At the time of his death Balke was the top rated motorcycle racer in the United States, and was the number one rider on the top rated Hendee Manufacturing Company / Indian Motorcycle racing team.

A new starting was introduced, as was the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap, a major stakes event.

The track introduced daily double wagering to Chicago and used a new infrared timer in the early 1930s.

In 1959, a new clubhouse was opened with vastly expanded seating to serve the racing needs of the Chicago market.

The track stopped in September for the Arlington Park meet and also began to hold occasional quarter horse races.

The track runs the following graded stakes: Hawthorne also runs the ungraded Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap, which was inaugurated in 2008 and was originally called the National Jockey Club Handicap, as well as the Hawthorne Derby which carried Grade 3 status through 2017.