Ellis Park begins season with a new motto: 'expect more'
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Ellis Park racing secretary Dan Bork has a motto for the track’s 29-date meet that begins Sunday and runs through Labor Day: Expect more.
“I think it is ‘expect more,’” echoed Ellis Park general manager Jeff Hall. “We’ve got expectations. We’ve got people here with money backing us now. We’re going to have a heck of a meet, and we’re excited about it.
“We are setting the bar high, and we have every expectation of clearing it. We are going to have the best horse population and jockey colony in probably the history of Ellis Park. Our 2-year-olds last summer produced in amazing ways, and we can’t wait to see how we top that. We are not going to be shy. A lot of good things are happening in Kentucky racing, and we are proud to be an important cog.”
First post is 12:50 p.m. CT, except for a trio of Twilight Friday cards with a 2:50 p.m. post time on July 19 and Aug. 9 and 23.
Race purses are scheduled to average a record $330,000 a day, up 43 percent over last year’s record purses. That’s in large part a function of Ellis Park’s unique relationship with Kentucky Downs and the Kentucky division of the Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, which represents owners and trainers at all five Kentucky thoroughbred tracks. About $5 million in purse money and Kentucky-bred purse supplements generated at Kentucky Downs will be transferred to Ellis Park’s account in an arrangement with the Kentucky HBPA and approval of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Ellis Park is pulling out all the stops to maximize the benefits from the additional purse money to make this meet one of its most important in a history dating to 1922. The New York Racing Association for the first time is handling the marketing and distribution of Ellis Park’s simulcast signal, with anticipation of getting several hundred more outlets to accept bets on Ellis’ races.
With maiden races offering a $50,000 pot — including Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements for Kentucky-bred horses, which are the vast majority of horses running at Ellis — trainers increasingly are keeping horses in the state for the summer instead of shipping out to Saratoga, Arlington Park, Indiana Grand, Monmouth Park and Delaware - circuits that used to routinely siphon horses out of Kentucky during Ellis' season. Now those maiden purses are comparable to what is paid out at Canada’s Woodbine Racetrack and superior to East Coast tracks outside of New York’s Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course and anything in the Midwest during the summer.
Saratoga Casino and Hospitality Group, the minority owner which last year purchased 100-percent interest in Ellis Park, is finalizing a deal to sell all the assets of the track to Laguna Development Corporation’s subsidiary Ellis Entertainment LLC. Saratoga will manage the live race meet and, along with Ellis Park’s marketing department, has created the most aggressive schedule for promotions, giveaways and special events in memory.
That begins with a baseball cap giveaway Sunday. Guests can redeem the coupon in the racing program for a hat with the Ellis Park logo — the first of four Ellis-themed merchandise giveaways. There’s a giveaway or promotion virtually every day of the meet.
“I can’t remember the last time that people have been so excited about an upcoming meet,” said Henderson County Judge Executive Brad Schneider. “The Ellis Park meet every summer is a highlight, no doubt about it. Always has been. But this summer with the new ownership and the amount of money they are apparently going to invest really has people interested and excited in a way that I haven’t seen in a while. I’m excited. I’m looking at coming out more often myself.”
Ellis Park will have 11 stakes totaling more than $1 million. All the stakes are on Sundays in order to have the strongest jockey colony possible. The stakes start with the $75,000 Ellis Park Turf on July 7 and the $75,000 Good Lord on July 21. August brings the biggest racing cards with the Aug. 4 Kentucky Downs Preview Day featuring five $100,000 stakes designed as launching pads to Kentucky Downs’ lucrative stakes; the Aug. 11 $125,000 Groupie Doll Stakes and the $100,000 Ellis Park Derby, followed by the $100,000 Ellis Park Debutante and Ellis Park Juvenile on Aug. 18.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the upcoming racing meet at Ellis Park and also the proposed future of our local track,” said Henderson Mayor Steve Austin. “The purse increase partnership with Kentucky Downs was big, but this is gigantic.
“With the top jockeys, trainers and owners sending their racing stock to Ellis this summer, it’s a guarantee for big and competitive fields – both very important to the racing public. I can’t remember this much anticipation.
“Long term, the picture is almost unbelievable with the new owners pledging millions and millions of dollars to make Ellis Park a destination point for racing, gaming and entertainment. And, that’s great news for business interests in Henderson and Evansville.”
Brad Cox, who went 22 for 65 with 10 seconds and seven thirds last year, will be shooting for a second straight Ellis Park training title and third overall. Corey Lanerie, who has all but clinched a 17th Churchill Downs riding title, is going for a fourth straight and sixth Ellis crown overall. Joey K. Davis of Arlington, Texas, should again be in the hunt for leading owner after going 7-for-15 last year for his first title at Ellis Park.
ELLIS PARK 2019 RACE MEET AT A GLANCE
Location: 300 US-41 North, Henderson, KY. (812) 425-1456
Live race meet: Sunday June 30-Labor Day Sept. 2 (29 dates). Racing Fridays-Sundays, plus Thursday July 4 and Monday Sept. 2. No racing Saturday Aug. 31 (opening day at Kentucky Downs).
Post time: 12:50 p.m. CT, except 2:50 p.m. Twilight racing Fridays July 19 and Aug. 9 and 23, followed by band Tailgate Revival playing 7-10 p.m. near the paddock. Gates open at 10 a.m. CT daily.
General admission: Free.
Parking: Free; preferred parking $5
Parking: Free; preferred parking $5
Switchboard: (812) 425-1456
Racing office: (812) 423-0372
Racing office: (812) 423-0372
Dining reservations: Under 10 people, (812) 435-8918; group sales (more than 10), (812) 435-8905.
Simulcasting: Betting on horse racing around the country seven days a week.
Historical Horse Racing: Parimutuel terminals featuring electronic systems allow betting on previously-run races with flash of video gaming. Open every day.
Website: EllisParkRacing.com. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @EllisParkRacing.
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