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Fast-paced horse racing action in Kentucky!
Ellis Park racecourse is a 210-acre thoroughbred horse racecourse in Henderson, Kentucky, south of Evansville, Indiana.
Live racing is typically held at Ellis Park racecourse from the Fourth of July through Labor Day. The racecourse is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during this time.
The Grade III Gardenia Stakes serves as the highlight of the Ellis Park Racecourse meet. Other stakes races held at Ellis Park Racecourse are the following:
- HBPA Handicap
- Don Bernhard
- Regaey Island
- Anna M. Fisher Debutante
- James C. Ellis Juvenile
- Audubon Oaks
- Ellis Park Breeders' Cup Turf
- Governor's Handicap
- Tri-State Handicap
Ellis Park Racecourse Features
Ellis Park racecourse was patterned after the Saratoga race track in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Ellis Park racecourse features a 1 1/8 mile dirt track and has chutes for 7-furlong and 1-mile races. A one mile turf track was installed in 1993. Ellis Park racecourse has a 6,000 seat grandstand and has 38 barns.
Ellis Park racecourse is the only track in the country to contain a one-mile chute at a 90-degree angle by the first turn.
Ellis Park Racecourse History
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In 1922, Ellis Park racecourse was built by the Green River Jockey Club and initially held a harness race meeting on the Grand Circuit for the total of $32,000 in purses for a five day race meeting. In November of that same year, a 10-day thoroughbred meet with purses of $62,000 was held.
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In 1925, the Green River Jockey Club went bankrupt. Rockport businessman James C. Ellis purchased the racecourse, then called Dade Park , and instituted many changes at the racecourse including adding a totalisator wagering system and a terrace grandstand.
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In 1954, the racecourse was renamed Ellis Park. The track management was then led by Ellis's nephew, Lester E. Yeager. A new paddock and jockey's quarters took shape during these years.
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By the 1960s, Yeager passed management onto Ruth Adkins, chief officer of the Ellis estate.
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In 1985, Ellis Park racecourse was sold to Roger and Lila Kumar.
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In 1989, Ellis Park racecourse was sold to the Racing Corporation of America.
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In 1998, Churchill Downs Incorporated took over Ellis Park racecourse.
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In November 2005, Ellis Park racecourse was heavily damaged by a tornado. 11 barns were destroyed and several race horses were killed.
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In 2006, Kentucky businessman Ron Geary purchased Ellis Park racecourse from Churchill Downs, Inc.
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In 2007, the Claiming Crown of horse racing was held at Ellis Park racecourse.
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