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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Doyle Wins National Handicapping Championship

A Scottsdale, Ariz., handicapper won the $500,000 first prize Jan. 29 on the final day of the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship held at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.

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.

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.

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 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.

KY Tracks Request Big Cut in Racing Dates

The harsh competitive environment in which Kentucky racing finds itself was on displayed in black and white Oct. 26 when a subcommittee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission considered applications from Thoroughbred racetracks that signal a drastic reduction in live racing dates for 2010.

Ellis Intends to Race; Turfway Plans Cutbacks

The owner of Ellis Park said Sept. 29 the struggling Kentucky racetrack will apply for racing dates in 2010, while the president of Turfway Park said the track would seek fewer racing dates next year.

Local Support Buoys 2009 Ellis Park Meet

Ellis Park, the western Kentucky racetrack that's on the fence for 2010, reported healthy gains in on-track business but a big drop in total handle after 20 days were cut from its 2009 meet.

Successful Ellis Park Meet to Add Five Dates

The future of Ellis Park beyond this year is questionable, but it appears the Kentucky racetrack's current meet has a good chance of being expanded.

Ellis, Turfway Balance Hope, Hard Decisions

Ellis Park owner Ron Geary said June 24 it's too soon to say a commitment from the racing industry and legislators to fight for racetrack gaming will keep his track open beyond the 2009 season. Meanwhile, Turfway Park and the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association plan to sit down soon to devise a plan that could include reductions in purses and racing dates for future meets.

Racetrack Gaming Bill Headed to KY House

The Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee June 18 sent racetrack gaming legislation to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

KEEP Rally Draws Nearly 1,000

Nearly a thousand people traveled to Kentucky's state capitol in Frankfort June 17 to rally for a cause they have stood behind for years: to boost the horse racing industry by way of expanded casino gaming.

Racing Cutbacks at Two Kentucky Tracks

Facing the harsh realities posed by a weak economy and stiff competition from racetracks in nearby states with more lucrative purses boosted by alternative gaming, two Kentucky tracks April 7 received permission to cut their live race dates this year.

KY Budget Woes Could Aid Racetrack VLTs

With the Kentucky General Assembly seemingly headed for a special session this spring or summer to address a substantial revenue deficit, a legislative committee March 12 heard testimony on a bill that would authorize video lottery terminals at racetracks in the state.

Kentucky Racing Industry 'at Risk'

Representatives of two Kentucky Thoroughbred tracks said they will be forced to reduce racing dates due to declining economic conditions, with the owner of Ellis Park saying his track would not race in 2010 unless alternative gaming is legalized in the Bluegrass State.

Horseplayers' Panel Announced by NTRA

An 11-member advisory panel has been named by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to help formulate grass roots lobbying and assist the NTRA's Horseplayers' Coalition address issues that affect players at the federal level.

Ellis Handle Drops, But Geary 'Content'

Ellis Park ended its annual racing meet Sept. 1 with a 3% drop in daily handle, despite broader signal distribution to advance deposit wagering outlets.

Task Force Discusses KY Drug Testing Lab

In response to the horse industry's cries for more effective ways of regulating racehorse medications, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chairman Robert Beck reported the possibility of the state obtaining its own laboratory facility.

Closing Day Robbery at Ellis Park

A routine closing day at Ellis Park Sept. 1 turned eventful when three men robbed some pari-mutuel clerks following the last race at the Henderson, Ky. racetrack.

Ellis Park Announces 5% Purse Increase

Ellis Park, which nearly closed a month ago due to stalled negotiations with horsemen over a new advance deposit wagering contract, announced it will increase purses by 5% beginning Aug. 13 through the close of the current meet Sept. 1.

Ellis Park Hires New Track Announcer

Ellis Park has named Bill Downes as the new permanent live race announcer for the Henderson, Ky. track. Downes, who has called races for Presque Isle Downs, Beulah Park, and River Downs, will replace announcer Luke Kruytbosch, who died in Evansville, Ind., July 14.

If Ellis Is Done, What About the Dates?

Ellis Park's owner said the western Kentucky racetrack won't hold its meet this summer, though horsemen want the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority to intervene. Could another track get the dates?

Geary Considers Options in ADW Situation

The owner of Ellis Park said he is willing to work with horsemen on revenue-sharing plans for wagering signals, but hasn't ruled out eventually closing the Kentucky track if an equitable long-term agreement isn't reached.

Ellis Park Owner Vows to Battle On

Ron Geary said he is facing a myriad of economic pressures in making Ellis Park a viable operation, but the owner of the Henderson, Ky., racetrack vows to fight the challenges with every resource before he considers closing the facility.

Jury Still Out on Recent Takeout-Reduction Experiments

An experiment by which the blended pari-mutuel takeout rate at Laurel Park was cut in half proved popular in theory but not at the betting windows. But was it a bust?

Leader of Horsemen's Group Impatient With ADW Situation

The president of a Louisiana horsemen's group has promised legal and legislative action if a solution isn't soon realized in the fractured advance deposit wagering industry.

Increased Field for Claiming Crown at Ellis Park

Ellis Park will become the first Kentucky racetrack to host the Claiming Crown when it conducts the ninth renewal of the event Aug. 4. Only once before has the race been held away from Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

Claiming Crown Turns Another Corner at Ellis Park

Organizers of the Claiming Crown hope its 2007 edition at Ellis Park Aug. 4 goes a long way toward strengthening the foundation of the event that was inaugurated in 1999.

TrackNet to Offer Claiming Crown to Rivals

Saying it was responding to the pleas of horsemen, TrackNet Media Group will offer Aug. 4 Claiming Crown racing at Ellis Park to arch-rivals TVG and Youbet.com, though a company executive said the move doesn't indicate a softening of the hard lines drawn by the parties.

Ellis Park President Purchases 17-year-old Alpena Magic

After Alpena Magic scratched from Wednesday's entries at Ellis Park, track president Ron Geary announced he had privately purchased the 17-year-old from his owner, Kenneth Robinette.

Kentucky Legislation Gives Tracks One-Day Tax Break

Kentucky tracks would get a tax break for one major racing event per year under legislation introduced in the state General Assembly.

First 'Claiming Crown' in Kentucky Set for Aug. 4, 2007

The Claiming Crown, to be held for the first time at Ellis Park in western Kentucky, has been scheduled for Aug. 4, officials said.

Kentucky Official: Gaming Figures in 2007 Elections

Expanded gambling in Kentucky isn't a front-burner topic right now, but it will be next year when the state holds elections for governor and other top posts, a racetrack official said Nov. 3 during the "Thoroughbred Industry Forum" at Churchill Downs on the eve of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Churchill Downs Completes Sale Of Ellis Park

Churchill Downs' anticipated sale of Ellis Park to a company headed by Kentucky businessman Ron Geary is complete, finalizing a deal that was announced in July.

Geary to Discuss Vision for Ellis Park at Meeting

Ron Geary, who is expected to close on his purchase of Ellis Park in late September, will discuss his vision for the western Kentucky racetrack at an Oct. 2 meeting of the Louisville Thoroughbred Club.

Kentucky's Ellis Park to Host 2007 Claiming Crown

Kentucky will host its first Claiming Crown in 2007 when the event moves to Ellis Park, the western Kentucky racetrack whose sale to businessman Ron Geary is expected to close in late September.

Ellis Park Opens With New Outlook for Future

Kentucky racing in the summer months hasn't gotten much attention over the years, but that could change if Ron Geary has his way.

Churchill Downs Has Deal to Sell Ellis Park

Churchill Downs Inc. has reached a definite agreement to sell Ellis Park in western Kentucky to a company owned by Ron Geary, a horse owner who recently retired as president and chief executive officer of ResCare, a Louisville, Ky., based, publicly-held provider of training services and services to persons with developmental and other disabilities.