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KHRC Approves More Historical Racing Machines

Despite concerns voiced by one member, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved an additional 40 historical race wagering machines and additional types of games and wagers at Kentucky Downs.

Kentucky Losing OTB Network in June

Declining handle is forcing the closure of the state's only freestanding OTB network.

Ellis Park Partner Buys Colorado Casino

Saratoga Harness Racing Inc., which last year acquired an ownership interest in Ellis Park in western Kentucky, said Jan. 29 it has completed its purchase of Fitzgeralds Casino Black Hawk in Colorado.

KEEP Adds Five to Its Board

The Board of Directors of the Kentucky Equine Education Project has added five new members.

KY Supreme Court to Hear Instant Racing Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court voted Jan. 11 to take up the issue of Instant Racing at the state's racetracks.

Report: Kentucky Gov. Mulls Gaming Options

Beshear did not commit to making any proposal this year, noting that the earliest it could be put before voters would be November 2014.

New Handicapping Contest at Ellis Park in '13

Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., will host a new handicapping contest with an estimated purse of $300,000 over the Labor Day weekend in 2013.

Geary To Receive Warner L. Jones Jr. Award

Ron Geary, owner and president of Ellis Park, has been named the 25th winner of the Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award given by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners Association.

Churchill Downs Gets OK for September Dates

After last-minute horse-trading and some tough compromises, Kentucky's five Thoroughbred tracks have reached agreement on a 2013 calendar that drastically alters the traditional schedule.

Churchill Applies for September Race Dates

After much deliberating, KHRC committee members voted to reconvene at a later date to make their final recommendations for 2013 race dates in question to the full commission, which meets Oct. 17.

KY Commission Approves 30% Sale of Ellis Park

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has given unanimous approval for the sale of a 30% interest in Ellis Park racetrack to an entity controlled by Saratoga Raceway and Casino for $4 million.

Solutions Not Readily Available in Kentucky

That Turfway Park is struggling to fill live racing programs for its 16-day meet is no surprise to horsemen, who believe a "perfect storm" developed in September.

Ellis Park Has Successful 2012 Meet

Despite a closing Labor Day weekend that saw the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac inundate western Kentucky with a deluge of rain, Ellis Park concluded its 29-day meet with increases in attendance and handle.

Harness Execs Buying 30% Interest in Ellis

A newly formed entity owned by executives of Saratoga Harness Racing Inc. has received initial approval to purchase 30% of Ellis Park for $4 million.

Instant Racing Starts at Ellis Park Aug. 31

Instant Racing is set to expand in Kentucky Aug. 31 when 177 of the electronic machines will begin operation at Ellis Park in Henderson.

Hernandez Rides 1,000th Career Winner

Jockey Brian J. Hernandez Jr. earned the 1,000th win of his career when he guided Wildandcrazyguy to victory in the eighth race Aug. 18 at Ellis Park in Kentucky.

Salty Strike Goes Wire-to-Wire in Gardenia

Craig B. Singer's homebred Salty Strike jumped out to the early lead and never looked back as the 4-year-old filly posted her third consecutive stakes win in the $100,000 Gardenia Stakes (gr. III) at Ellis Park Aug. 11.

NY Harness Track Interests Investing in Ellis

Saratoga Raceway and Casino in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has applied to purchase an interest in Ellis Park, a Thoroughbred track in Henderson, Ky.

Joyful Victory, Sassy Image Top Gardenia

Joyful Victory and Sassy Image top a strong field of 11 fillies and mares in the $100,000 Gardenia Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 11 at Ellis Park, the first race back in Kentucky for jockey Robby Albarado since his May 4 arrest.

Top Court Asked to Hear Instant Racing Case

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and other supporters of Instant Racing have requested that a lawsuit challenging the legality of the machines be heard by the state Supreme Court rather than going back to a lower court.

Kentucky Reaping Benefits of Instant Racing

When Kentucky Downs conducts its short, all-turf meet in September, it will offer some of the most lucrative purses in the Bluegrass State this year, thanks to the success of Instant Racing.

Ellis Park Moving Ahead on Instant Racing

The owner of Ellis Park said June 27 he is hoping to have Instant Racing implemented before the track's summer meet ends on Labor Day. The 29-day meet at the Henderson, Ky., track begins July 4.

Remedy Sought in Latest KHRC, Veitch Dispute

A Circuit Court judge has told John Veitch to obtain a letter of interest for his services from a Kentucky racetrack and then re-submit his license application to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Instant Racing Continues to Thrive in KY

With an appeals court planning to hear arguments later this month on the legality of Instant Racing, the electronic form of gaming continues to generate significant revenues for Kentucky Downs and the state's horse industry.

After the Thrill Is Gone - By Evan Hammonds

The bread-and-butter meets in Kentucky are teetering on the brink

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2012 Kentucky Racing Dates Approved

With only a slight modification from the original proposal approved previously by a committee, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Oct. 24 unanimously OK'd 2012 racing dates for the state's racetracks.

Geary: Ellis Park Could Lure Casino Customers

The president of Ellis Park said Oct. 24 he believes implementation of Instant Racing could attract some of the customers in the area who have been whetting their gambling appetite at a nearby Indiana casino.

Ellis Park Wants 252 Instant Racing Terminals

Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., has submitted an application for regulatory approval to conduct Instant Racing, stipulating that it would use more than 13,200 square feet of its facility to house 252 gaming terminals.

Instant Racing Poised to Expand in Kentucky

With Instant Racing off to a successful start at Kentucky Downs, other tracks in the Bluegrass state are making plans to usher in the form of electronic gaming.

Handle Declines at Ellis Park

During Ellis Park's 31-day day race meet July 2-Sept. 5, the Henderson, Ky. track saw declines in all-source handle that were in line with the overall decrease in 2011 U.S. betting on Thoroughbred racing.

Champion Invasor Sires First Winner

Horse of the Year Invasor came through with his first winner when his daughter Wonder of It All scored at Ellis Park Sept. 5.

KY Downs' Instant Racing to be First Class

The president of Kentucky Downs said the track is nearing completion of work needed to implement a form of Instant Racing and that it will be a "first class" operation and that the opening date will be announced soon.

Groupie Doll Uses Inside Trip to Win Gardenia

Fred Bradley and Buff Bradley's homebred Groupie Doll is now a graded stakes winner, thanks to a rail-skimming trip by Greta Kuntzweiler that earned her victory in the $100,000 Gardenia Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 13 at Ellis Park.

Full Field Entered in Ellis Park's Gardenia

Taptam, one of two contenders entered by Bret Calhoun, will carry top weight of 122 pounds in the $100,000 Gardenia Stakes (gr. III), the featured race of the Ellis Park summer meet.

New Website for Handicapping Contest Players

Ellis Park Race Course, Inc., has launched HorseTourneys.com, an affiliate website that will operate a year-round, continuous online contest program to handicapping tournament players offering awards and prizes.

Some Funds Allocated for Possible KY Cup

A committee has approved use of $100,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund for several Kentucky Cup races, but it remains to be seen whether the stakes series--at least part of it--will be run.

Talkin' Horses with Donna Barton Brothers

Talkin' Horses is hosted by Ron Mitchell and Greg DePalma. This week's guests are Donna Barton Brothers, Ron Geary and Tom LaMarra for our new Handicapping segment.

Listen Now!

Johnsen: Instant Racing to Boost Industry

The president of Kentucky Downs says action by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission July 14 approving a new form of exotic wagering that uses electronic machines will provide an economic and morale boost to the industry.

KTDF Revenue Decline of Concern to Panel

Members of an advisory committee that oversees the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund expressed concern June 8 over diminishing revenue for the program as well as one racetrack's suspension of full-card simulcasts.

Flooding Delays Training at Ellis Park

Ellis Park director of operations Bob Jackson said in spite of the Kentucky River flooding around the facility a week prior to the Kentucky Derby, simulcast numbers were not significantly affected.

Plan to Save Turfway Training Falls Short

An effort by Kentucky horsemen to keep Turfway Park open for off-season training and stabling has failed, meaning the Northern Kentucky track will close its barn area in mid-April.

KY 2011 Racing Dates: Maintaining Status Quo

After two years of major cutbacks in live racing, Kentucky's Thoroughbred racetracks are hoping for some stability and are maintaining the status quo in their requests for 2011 dates.

KY Trainer Mattingly Suspended 90 Days

Stewards at Ellis Park have suspended trainer James E. Mattingly for 90 days after a horse he trained tested positive for two prohibited substances and he was found in possession of syringes and hypodermic needles.

Ellis Park Reports Solid Numbers for Meet

Unlike 2009, when purses and live racing days were cut, Ellis Park reported solid numbers for its 27-day meet that ended Sept. 6.

Experiment With Fewer Dates Continues in KY

Another experimental year continues in Kentucky as Ellis Park wraps up its summer meet and Turfway Park prepares for a scaled-down session with only one stakes.

Evenly-Matched Gardenia Draws 10

Larry Richardson's Midway Holiday, a winner of three of six lifetime starts, is one of a pair of 3-year-old fillies entered in a wide-open edition of the $100,000 Gardenia Handicap (gr. III) Aug. 14 at Ellis Park.

KY Hopes Talk of Aid for Racing Legitimate

On the heels of a successful opening weekend at Ellis Park comes word of a few initiatives that, if they come to fruition, could generate or repurpose revenue for Kentucky racing. But will it be enough?

Ellis Park to See Increase in KTDF Money

Ellis Park will offer higher purses for some Kentucky-bred horses under a plan approved by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund advisory committee.

Kentucky Trainer Bobby LaRue Dies

Bobby LaRue, a veteran Kentucky trainer, died Jan. 3 at a Henderson, Ky., hospital.

Ellis Park to Suspend Simulcast Operations

Ellis Park officials said Oct. 27 the racetrack will shut down after Nov. 8 and suspend simulcast operations until April 1, 2010. The move affects 75 full- and part- time employees at the Western Kentucky track.