|
 Ellis Park race track is a horseracing facility in Henderson, Kentucky with two tracks
that feature thoroughbred racing. The track is a quaint, laid-back affair and
its old world feel is one of its charms.
Ellis Park race track is nevertheless a track that hosts some of Kentucky’s biggest
stakes events. Among these noteworthy events are the James C. Ellis Juvenile,
the Gardenia Stakes, the Dade Turf Classic and the Tri-State Handicap.
| 5F |
White Image |
2 |
119 |
07/09/88 |
57 3/5 |
| 5 1/2F |
Relentless Seller |
3 |
114 |
08/16/02 |
103 1/5 |
| 5 1/2 F |
Mount Forloon |
2 |
119 |
07/17/88 |
1:03 2/5 |
| 6F |
Stubilem |
4 |
117 |
07/01/82 |
1:09 |
| 6 1/2 F |
American Chance |
5 |
113 |
07/16/94 |
1:15 |
| 7F |
Sheena Native |
4 |
120 |
07/23/88 |
1:21 3/5 |
| Abt. 7 1/2 F |
Illbeastar |
4 |
113 |
07/01/77 |
1:35 1/5 |
| 1 M |
Still Waving |
5 |
118 |
08/13/88 |
1:34 3/5 |
| 1 1/8 M |
Lt. Lao |
4 |
123 |
08/27/88 |
1:47 3/5 |
| 1 1/4 M |
Won Du Loup |
4 |
115 |
09/04/88 |
2:03 |
| 1 3/8 M |
Ramona Jay |
4 |
102 |
08/24/85 |
2:23 |
| 1 1/2 M |
Unaccountable |
5 |
115 |
07/23/88 |
2:29 3/5 |
| 1 5/8 M |
Sir Lightning |
7 |
112 |
08/09/92 |
2:45 4/5 |
| 1 3/4 M |
Bondi |
5 |
115 |
08/27/66 |
3:00 |
| 2 M |
Classic Deal |
6 |
119 |
08/21/88 |
3:25 3/5 |
| 2 1/4 M |
Bondi |
5 |
115 |
09/05/66 |
3:54 |
| 5 1/2 F |
Bettybird |
3 |
112 |
08/21/02 |
1:00 2/5 |
| 5 1/2 F |
Hello Paradise |
5 |
113 |
08/18/96 |
1:01 |
| 1 M |
Slewper Imp |
5 |
115 |
07/16/95 |
1:32 3/5 |
| 1 M |
Suffragette |
3 |
112 |
07/24/99 |
1:32 3/5 |
| 1 1/16 M |
Stay Sound |
3 |
115 |
07/20/98 |
1:38 4/5 |
| 1 1/8 M |
Yaqthan |
6 |
113 |
09/02/96 |
1:44 3/5 |
| 1 1/4 M |
Ye Slew |
7 |
112 |
08/06/94 |
1:59 3/5 |
| 1 1/2 M |
Our Forbes |
4 |
115 |
08/10/94 |
2:52 2/5 |
| 2 M |
Irish Harbour |
6 |
113 |
09/02/96 |
3:20 1/5 |
-
The race track now known as Ellis Park was built by the Green River Jockey
Club. It was known then as Dade Park. On October 19, the first Dade Park
harness race meet began. On Nov. 8, the first thoroughbred race meet began.
-
Bankruptcy hit the track and the only racing held at Dade Park was auto racing,
which was conducted over Labor Day weekend.
-
Horse racing returned and a 20-day summer meet ran from mid-August through
Labor Day. Seven races were run daily.
-
The wager known as the Daily Double made its Kentucky debut on Aug. 12, the
meet's opening day. On Aug. 29, track owner James C. Ellis finally won his
first race.
-
The track's public address system makes its debut in the 26-day meet. For the
first time since James C. Ellis acquired the track, it shows a profit during
the meeting.
-
A photo-finish camera was used for the first time.
-
A mechanical starting gate was used at Dade Park for the first time.
-
Wartime racing at Ellis Park race track is permitted by the government.
-
A totalizator system was installed at the track.
-
The track's grandstand was enlarged by 809 seats. The number of mutuel booths
on the main line is increased from 24 to 35.
-
The track's name is officially changed on Aug. 3 from Dade Park to James C.
Ellis Park. The terrace grandstand, located adjacent to the paddock, is built.
The seats in the new structure had been used at Miller Baseball Field in
Owensboro, Ky.
-
The track's film patrol was installed.
-
The track's mutuel handle increased, and track officials point to the ouster
of numerous bookmakers as one reason for the rising wagering totals.
-
Ellis Park race track offers race replays on closed circuit television for the first time
during the 39-day meet.
- Stakes races offering added money make their Ellis Park debut.
- Ellis Park race track introduced exacta wagering on July 30.
- Sunday racing was introduced at Ellis Park race track.
- New owners took over at Ellis Park race track as Roger and Lila
Kumar agreed in principle to purchase the track from the estate of James C.
Ellis. The Kumars
immediately
launched a $10 million track improvement program.
- A 65-day meeting, one of the track's longest, featured the introduction
of
a $2 quinella to the wagering format.
- A 1-mile turf course was completed inside the 1 1/8-mile main track,
but the meeting got off to a tenuous start as the track dealt with a strike
by
horsemen.
-
A national record trifecta payout of $126,349 for $2 results was achieved on
July 25 when Ask Mesach (73-1) led a parade of longshots in the seventh
race.
- Churchill Downs Incorporated purchased Racing Corporation of American,
which includes Ellis Park race track, for $22 million in a deal that was finalized in
April.
- Capital improvements totaling $2 million were completed, including
a new finish line pole, improved landscaping, a new jumbo television in the
clubhouse,
and new chairs in the dining rooms. Purses rise to an all-time high under
first-year Racing Secretary Ben Huffman.
- During its 77th meeting, the track posted significant gains in on-track
attendance and pari-mutuel handle. On track attendance during the 41-day live
meeting
(July 11 - Sept 4) increased by 32 percent. Attendance daily averaged 2,917
and the mutual handle went up 16 percent as $373,704 was wagered daily.
- More track attendance and handle records
were broken as Ellis Park race track’s
success continued.
|
