Ellis Park, which experienced flooding and wind damage following heavy rains earlier this month, will delay the pre-meet opening of its backstretch for training, according to Gary Palmisano Jr., vice president of racing for Churchill Downs Inc., which owns the Henderson, Ky., track. Previously scheduled to open May 5 for stabling, the approximate opening date is now "going to be the first week of June, with hopes of moving that forward," Palmisano said.
Ellis Park's race dates of July 3-Aug. 25 are unaffected, he added.
Palmisano described the backstretch damage as relatively minor but in need of "a lot of clean up, a lot of elbow grease," mentioning roof damage, a toppled electrical pole, and the need to replace some stalls and refurbish some shedrows in some barns. Water came up in the backstretch from underground, he said, but the levee surrounding Ellis Park helped protect it from an overflowing Ohio River.
Ellis Park's casino, which offers historical horse racing gaming, has reopened, and there is "nothing of huge note on the (track's) frontside," Palmisano said.
Aerial photos taken at the time of the flooding showed Ellis Park surrounded by floodwaters, with water pooling in parking areas and other locations.
Palmisano mentioned that with year-round training continuing at Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky, options still exist for stabling in Kentucky. CDI also owns Turfway Park and Churchill Downs in the state. Available stall space is in short supply at Churchill Downs, which opens for racing April 26, one week before the Kentucky Derby (G1).
During the spring off-season at Ellis Park, while Churchill Downs is racing, some Kentucky trainers use Ellis Park for a training base, while others send secondary strings there, often to prepare 2-year-olds for racing. Ellis Park's late opening could potentially delay those preparations.
Ellis Park was not the only track impacted by Ohio River flooding. Debris from the river needed to be cleared away after flooding at Belterra Park, which, like Ellis Park, is alongside the river, though near Cincinnati in southwest Ohio. The flooding there occurred shortly before its backstretch was to open. Track officials hope to have a definitive answer by April 25 regarding whether the track is on schedule for its May 1 meet start, according to David Strow, vice president of corporate communications for track owner Boyd Gaming.
