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.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, on the advice of one of its committees, Oct. 27 approved 2010 racing dates for all three breeds, including a 25% cut in Thoroughbred racing.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Turfway Park ended its 2009 fall meet, which marked the track's 50th anniversary, with a double-digit decline in on-track handle but a much smaller decrease in all-sources handle.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Jockeys that won leading rider titles at Turfway Park over the past 50 years will return to the Northern Kentucky track Oct. 8 when it ends its 50th anniversary meet.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, who guided the legendary Secretariat into Triple Crown history in 1973, will be at Turfway Park Saturday, Oct. 3, from noon to 5 p.m. to greet fans and sign autographs.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Furthest Land, claimed for $35,000 less than a year ago, paid big dividends for his connections Sept. 26 as he ran down Dubious Miss in the final strides to win the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) by a neck at Turfway Park.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Consecutive days of heavy rain led Kentucky Downs, which offers only turf racing, to cancel its six-race program Sept. 26.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced that Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the facility. Turfway Park is the 10th racing facility to be so designated by the Alliance.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Bear Now goes for back-to-back Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) titles Sept. 26 at Turfway Park when she takes on nine rivals in the $100,000 Polytrack event for fillies and mares.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
WinStar Farm's homebred Hold Me Back, who scored his biggest victory in the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) earlier this year at Turfway Park, returns to the Florence, Ky., racetrack as the one to beat in the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) Sept. 26.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Fields are beginning to jell for the three graded stakes races that form the centerpiece of the Sept. 26 Kentucky Cup Day card at Turfway Park.
Monday, September 21, 2009
A potential outbreak of strangles at Hoosier Park has forced Kentucky racetracks and public training stables to temporarily ban all horses from the Indiana track.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino has announced purse increase that has put purses about 20% higher than they were when its meet began July 30. Thus far, the Indiana track has paid about $30,000 more a day than Turfway Park in neighboring Kentucky.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Edward Evans' Nite Light took advantage of pedestrian fractions and went gate-to-wire in the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 12 in Florence, Ky.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Todd Pletcher is always a presence at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, and with a spot to the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Marathon up for grabs via the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes (gr. IIIT), the Eclipse Award-winning trainer will look to bolster his chances with a pair of solid contenders.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Turfway Park has reached agreements making its races available to all major advance deposit wagering platforms beginning with the 2009 fall meet and running through the end of the 2010 winter/spring meet, track president Robert N. Elliston announced Sept. 7.
Monday, September 07, 2009
The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has announced an agreement with Turfway Park that extends the current purse contract through the end of the 2010 winter/spring race meeting.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Kentucky horsemen are hoping "light at the end of the tunnel" could help facilitate a contract for the upcoming Turfway Park meet.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will raise purses 12% beginning Aug. 19, citing a "conservative approach" taken with the purse account when the meet began in late July.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A reduction in stakes purses for its upcoming meet will allow Turfway Park to maintain overnight purses and racing days, but track officials are thinking ahead to 2010, when that probably won't be the case.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Turfway Park has released a fall meet stakes schedule that includes dropping of two stakes from the Kentucky Cup Day card on Sept. 26 and reduced purse for the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II). Two other stakes have also been dropped from the fall schedule.
Monday, August 10, 2009
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.
Monday, July 27, 2009
In the aftermath of the failed passage of the legislation that would have allowed video lottery terminals at Kentucky racetracks, several Thoroughbred industry members voiced their opinions on how they will survive without the extra boost to the state's purse structure and breeders' incentive programs.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
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.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A party-line vote in the Republican-heavy Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee June 22 killed legislation to authorize video lottery terminals at racetracks in Kentucky.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
As Ohio racetracks are busy working on a plan for racetrack gaming, horsemen's groups are lobbying the state legislature to get behind Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland's proposal for video lottery terminals at tracks.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
There hasn't been much good news for Justin Vitek since the end of February, when he found out that his leukemia, which had been in remission, returned. But things may finally be looking up for the veteran jockey, who recently found a bone marrow donor and will have a stem cell transplant later this month.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Turfway Park ended its 2009 winter/spring meet with double-digit declines in handle and purses paid, and a significant drop in field size compared to the same period in 2008. The 2009 meet began Jan. 1 and ended April 2.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said he has been proactive in his support of expanded gambling to assist horse racing and breeding, and the "continued tough economy may further underscore that effort."
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
After 12 years of sponsoring the Breeders' Futurity Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, William S. Farish's Lane's End has relinquished its support of the $500,000 event. The 1 1/16-mile Futurity for 2-year-olds is run in early October and had been sponsored by the farm since 1997.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
West Point Thoroughbreds' Fitz Just Right tops a field of 10 3-year-old fillies hoping to grab their first graded earnings and make a late splash on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) trail in the $150,000 Bourbonette Stakes (gr. III) March 21 at Turfway Park.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Because of successful juvenile campaigns, West Side Bernie and Bittel Road both already have enough graded earnings to ensure themselves a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 2. But the connections of each colt will now get to see if they have legitimate contenders in their barns when they go to post in the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) March 21 at Turfway Park.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A field of at least 10, headed by Lori and George Hall's West Side Bernie, appears likely for the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes for 3-year-olds at Turfway Park March 21.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Turfway Park has canceled its third consecutive Monday program because of a shortage of horses, officials said March 13.
Friday, March 13, 2009
After going a month with no fatalities, Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky was the site of five catastrophic injuries during an eight-day period in February, according to state veterinarian Dr. Bryce Peckham.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Turfway Park has canceled live racing for Sunday, March 8, due to a water main break in the stable area.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Association purses paid at Turfway Park will be cut 5% and the 2009 Tejano Run Stakes and Fairway Fun Stakes have been canceled, track president Robert N. Elliston announced March 6.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Turfway Park's live racing card scheduled for March 2, has been canceled due to lack of entries. The card had been added to the schedule in an effort to make up races lost to six full or partial weather cancellations, five in January and one in February.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Turfway Park is having a tough time making up for programs canceled because of the weather during the current winter/spring meet.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The 38th renewal of the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park has drawn 112 nominations, it was announced Feb. 22.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Citing wind chill temperatures, Turfway Park canceled the Thursday, Feb. 19, live racing card after the third race.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
More than 100 people who make their living in the Kentucky horse industry made their case to three Northern Kentucky legislators Feb. 16, and the message was clear: The economics must change or the state will lose a valuable asset.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Millionaire grade I winner Brass Hat returns to racing Feb. 14 in the $50,000 Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park, his first start in eight months.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
SPECIAL REPORT: Horsemen who call Kentucky home year-round are taking a beating, and they predict even more owners and horses will leave the state. Whether there will be legislative relief any time soon, however, remains to be seen.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A month after Turfway Park experienced eight catastrophic breakdowns during its 21-day holiday meet, state veterinarian Dr. Bryce Peckham and Turfway president Bob Elliston were on hand at a Feb. 10 Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting in Lexington to present commissioners a much more positive report.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Parade Clown got a wise ride from veteran rider Bill Troilo Feb. 7 at Turfway Park to take home the $50,000 WEBN Stakes trophy. It was the first stakes win for the son of Distorted Humor and a decisive step toward the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) next month.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
The field for the rescheduled $50,000 WEBN Stakes Feb. 7 grew to 12 when entries were retaken, and additional early speed adds new possibilities to the mile contest for 3-year-olds.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The Horseplayers Association of North America has introduced this year a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Featured exclusively on BloodHorse.com is a countdown of the top 10 tracks. Turfway Park is #10.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The quarantine imposed on Barn 17 at Turfway Park Friday, Jan. 30, was lifted Saturday morning after samples from a horse euthanized at the track Friday tested negative for equine herpes virus and other communicable disease.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
