Ellis Park Race Course facts for kids

Ellis Park is a famous racetrack for Thoroughbred horses. It is located in Henderson, Kentucky, which is just south of Evansville, Indiana. The track is owned and run by Ellis Entertainment. This company is part of the Laguna Development Corporation, which is based in New Mexico.

Even though the track is north of the Ohio River, which usually separates Kentucky and Indiana, Ellis Park is still in Kentucky. This is because the border was set based on where the river was in 1792, when Kentucky became a state.

History of Ellis Park

Early Days and New Ownership

Ellis Park was built in 1922 by a group called the Green River Jockey Club. At first, it hosted harness races, where horses pull a driver in a cart. These races offered about $32,000 in prize money. Soon after, in November 1922, the track held 10 days of thoroughbred races with $62,000 in prize money. The track was a popular stop for horse trainers traveling south to New Orleans for winter races.

However, these short racing events were not enough to keep the track going. In 1925, after only three years, the Green River Jockey Club went out of business. That same year, a businessman named James C. Ellis bought the track. At the time, it was called Dade Park.

James Ellis made many improvements to the track. He added a system to show betting odds and results, called a tote board. He also built a new grandstand area for spectators. In 1954, the track was renamed Ellis Park in his honor. James Ellis passed away in 1956.

Changes in Leadership and Ownership

After James Ellis died, his nephew, Lester E. Yeager, took over managing the track. Under his leadership, new buildings were added, including a paddock (where horses are prepared before a race) and living quarters for jockeys. A new clubhouse and stable areas were also built. In the mid-1960s, Ruth Adkins became the leader of the track's management.

Ruth Adkins was in charge of James C. Ellis's estate, which still owned the track and other businesses. In 1985, the track was sold to Roger and Lila Kumar. They added a "sky terrace" on top of the grandstand. They also worked to allow betting on races happening at other tracks in Kentucky. In 1989, they sold Ellis Park to the Racing Corporation of America. Then, in 1998, Churchill Downs Incorporated bought the track.

Challenges and New Beginnings

Ellis Park faced a big challenge on November 6, 2005, when a tornado hit the area. The track was badly damaged, and sadly, several racehorses died.

On July 17, 2006, a Kentucky businessman named Ron Geary bought Ellis Park from Churchill Downs Incorporated. He decided to change the racing schedule so that races at Ellis Park would start on the Fourth of July. This meant Ellis Park's races would overlap with the last week of racing at Churchill Downs. In 2007, Ellis Park hosted the Claiming Crown, a special series of races. It was the first time this event was held in Kentucky.

In July 2008, Ron Geary announced that he would close the track. This was due to a disagreement with the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association about money from betting. However, just a few days later, a deal was made, and the track reopened. Under this agreement, horse owners and trainers would get a larger share of the betting money.

In 2009, Geary told the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that he would have fewer races that year. He even planned to close the track the following year because there wasn't enough prize money or horses compared to other tracks. But Ellis Park stayed open for the 2010 season, with the first race on July 10, 2010.

Modern Era and Important Races

In 2012, Ron Geary sold 30 percent of Ellis Park to the Saratoga Casino and Raceway for $4 million. This money helped to install "Instant Racing" machines, which are like slot machines but based on past horse races. Saratoga then bought the remaining 70 percent of the track in 2018.

In June 2019, Ellis Park was sold again to Ellis Entertainment, which is part of the Laguna Development Corporation. The new owners have big plans for the track. They are investing $60 million to build a new historical racing facility. They also plan to make the turf course wider, add lights for night racing, and improve the barns and restaurants at the facility.

Ellis Park hosts several important races. Its most famous race is the Groupie Doll Stakes, which is a Grade III event. Other notable races include the Ellis Park Breeders' Cup Turf, Governor's Handicap, Tri-State Handicap, and Audubon Oaks. The Ellis Park Derby has become very important. In 2020, it became a qualifying race for the famous Kentucky Derby. The winner of the Ellis Park Derby receives 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which helps them get into the big race.

Physical Attributes of the Track

Ellis Park's design was inspired by the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It has a dirt track that is 1.125 miles long. The track also has special sections called "chutes" for races that are seven furlongs or one mile (about 1.6 kilometers) long.

In 1993, a one-mile (about 1.6 kilometers) turf course (grass track) was added. The entire facility covers about 210 acres (0.85 square kilometers). It has a grandstand with 6,000 seats and 38 barns for horses. Ellis Park is unique because it's the only track in the country with a one-mile (about 1.6 kilometers) chute that is at a 90-degree angle by the first turn. This design is similar to the "Wilson Chute" that Saratoga Race Course used to have for its one-mile races.