Ellis Park 2016 Meet

[Pants II]

HENDERSON, Ky. (June 21, 2016) – Ellis Park’s purses are scheduled to average $210,000 a day for the track’s 30-date meet that runs July 2-Sept. 5, up from $155,000 in 2015. That provides horsemen the best overall non-stakes purses among the Midwest tracks racing in the summer, especially for Kentucky-bred horses in maiden and allowance races that benefit from Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements. Because the vast majority of horses running in those races are Kentucky-born and sired and therefore eligible for such purse supplements, Ellis Park is projecting that 95 percent of the KTDF funds offered will be paid out.

More so than overall purse distribution or average, horsemen look at how much their horse can earn in each individual race category. Maiden races have gone up from $29,000 to $38,000 for Kentucky-bred horses, for example, easily best in the region.

The Ellis purse account this summer is aided by a $1.35 million contribution from Kentucky Downs as well as surging business from Ellis’ Instant Racing pari-mutuel games.

http://ellisparkracing.com/2016/06/2...-purse-leader/

Those slo...err instant racing machines sure did disappoint, eh?

[Pants II]

http://www.horseracingnation.com/new...r_Charity_123#

It started out with a tweet announcing that Joe Kristufek will make daily selections for Ellis Park on Brisnet.com: “To play @EllisParkRacing without @JoeyDaKRacing picks is a handicap, not handicapping.”

“Unless you’ve got my picks,” came the quick response from Megan Devine (@MissMeganDevine), new paddock analyst for the Ellis meet that runs July 2 through Sept. 5.

“Shots fired!” chipped in C.J. Johnsen (@CeeJayJohnsen), racing manager for Kentucky Downs, which markets Ellis’ simulcasting product.

Thus was the inspiration for Coady Photography to sponsor the Ellis Park Independence Day Smackdown, a charity competition whose first three recruits were Kristufek, Devine and Johnsen. They’ll be joined by Ellis Park president Ron Geary, Ellis announcer Jimmy McNerney (@JimmyMcNerney) and Horse Racing Radio Network’s Jude Feld (RaceHorseReport).

The six handicappers will make selections for a $2 win and place bet on one horsein each race on Monday’s special July 4 card at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. Their selections will be posted early Monday morning at facebook.com/CoadyPhotography and @CoadyPhoto on Twitter, with standings updated throughout the day.

Coady Photography, America’s leading track photographer whose 29 client tracks include Ellis Park, will pay $500 to the charity of choice for the handicapper ending the day with the largest mythical money, not to mention getting bragging rights.

I thought for sure my home track was going to disappear when the tornado hit in 2005.

To see the product they offered yesterday competing with Churchill and this latest news of a handicapping competition for charity...well, I don't get sappy much but this is just great.

Ellis has been the red-headed stepchild of Kentucky racing for far too long. It's time Turfway take that role.