Ellis Park's immediate improvements a 'downpayment' with more to come
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Photo:
Coady Photography
Before Ellis Park's live racing meet began Sunday, there were plenty of people at the track Saturday with staff, contractors, vendors and temporary employees hard at work painting, cleaning, pressure-washing, mowing, weed-eating and setting out flowers for the opener.
“LDC and Saratoga are committed to improving the facility, and this is just the start,” said Ellis Park general manager Jeff Hall, referring to Laguna Development Corporation, which bought the track through its Ellis Entertainment LLD subsidiary, and Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group, the previous owner that is managing the 2019 race meet.
“There are big plans in the works, but in the meantime we’ve spruced up the old girl as much as we could before time ran out. Our fans should look at this as the downpayment with much, much more to come.”
“There are big plans in the works, but in the meantime we’ve spruced up the old girl as much as we could before time ran out. Our fans should look at this as the downpayment with much, much more to come.”
Ellis Park, built in 1922, is the second-oldest track in Kentucky behind Churchill Downs.
Ellis regulars will immediately notice the difference when they drive into the track, with the exterior getting a fresh coat of paint and new trim, as well as a new sign and significant landscaping.
Then there are infrastructure upgrades that guests might not notice, such as new roofs, and safety measures such as the removal of the first row of grandstand box seats. One major improvement will be felt rather than seen: new air conditioning - two industrial units for the clubhouse and three for the Sky Theatre. A new southern entrance to the gaming area is about to be completed but might not be done until after the opener.
Mena coming into Ellis off big Churchill meet
Jockey Miguel Mena will come into Ellis Park’s meet off his best season ever at Churchill Downs.
Mena, who won the 2006 Ellis Park riding title, headed into Saturday’s closing day at Churchill Downs trailing only 16-meet leader Corey Lanerie in the riding standings, 41-29 in wins. With Churchill’s lucrative purses and with all the talented jockeys who won fewer races, it’s a huge accomplishment for Mena, whose mounts earned almost $1.5 million.
“Corey has been around so long and had so much success,” Mena said at Churchill Downs. “He’s like trying to beat the 1-to-5 shot. But I’m just thankful for the successful meet that I had. Twenty-nine wins, that’s got to be my best meet ever for the spring meet, and the bigger purses. It’s been very good. I rode for some new clients, picked up some new young horses and good business. I’m looking forward for the summer.”
Indeed the jockey is just thankful to be able to ride at Ellis Park this meet. Last year he missed much of the spring, the entire summer and part of the fall recovering from injuries incurred in a mid-March spill at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Mena suffered a crushed heel and ankle fracture when his mount tripped over a leader who fell without warning. He was unable to have surgery that would have hastened the healing because he developed fracture blisters on his foot. Such blisters are huge and make surgery perilous because of the high risk of infection.
With the multiple fractures having to heel on their own, Mena didn’t resume riding races until last October at Keeneland. He won 37 races at the Fair Grounds but really got clicking at Churchill Downs.
Asked if he could upend Lanerie, the three-time defending Ellis champ and five-time titlist overall, Mena said: “Ellis is a little different. You ride some cheaper races, different people. I don’t worry about that. I just want to make a good living and have fun. Maybe pick up some nice young horses. I’ve been working some nice young horses and hopefully they show up. Just looking forward to Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs. I missed it all last year, and three summers ago I missed Kentucky Downs when I broke my shoulder.”
Analyst O’Connor adds program handicapping
Rocco “Li’l Rocco” O’Connor, who quickly earned the spot as Ellis Park paddock analyst after auditioning the first couple of cards last year, will make the program selections with comments for the 2019 meet.
O’Connor, who also is the jockey agent for Chantal Sutherland, proved a natural behind the mic, his down-home manner resonating with the Ellis Park audience. Asked what he might do different this year, he said, “I’m going to do a lot more tweeting. You can follow me @Rocco_Connor. I wasn’t on Twitter last year. I’m going to do a lot of tweeting, just things that are happening at the track, updates, paddock picks and what not.
“I want to be more interactive with the fan base. Don’t hesitate to come up to see me, talk to me. I’m just really excited about everything that Ellis Park has done and the future of Ellis Park, because it looks really bright.”
Because O’Connor often must make his program selections before the morning line comes out, his selections could change by the time the horses are in the paddock.
“They’re done at least three days in advance and usually before the morning line is out,” he said. “I’ll try to keep it uniform, and if there is a change, I’ll let the public know.”
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