Ellis Park Stakes Offer Record $4.125 Million

A record $4.125 million stakes schedule featuring 18 races will be offered during Ellis Park Racing & Gaming's 2026 season, which runs from July 2-Aug. 23. Highlighting the season is Ellis Park Summer Showcase Weekend on Aug. 1-2, which features seven turf stakes worth a combined $1.75 million. The two-day event includes two stakes Saturday and five Sunday, led by the $300,000 Green River Island Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed), $250,000 Pucker Up Stakes (Listed), $250,000 Sunkissed Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed), $250,000 Tri-State Turf Sprint Stakes (Listed), $250,000 Hummingbird Stakes (Listed), $250,000 Water Tower Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial and the $200,000 Riverside Rush Stakes. Another marquee day on the calendar is Aug. 9, when Ellis Park Derby Day will feature six stakes worth a combined $1.5 million, including the $400,000 Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed) and $200,000 Groupie Doll Stakes (Listed). The program also includes the $250,000 Ellis Park Juvenile presented by Claiborne Farm, $250,000 Ellis Park Debutante, $200,000 Audubon Oaks and $200,000 R.A. "Cowboy" Jones Memorial. The meet will begin racing Thursday through Sunday from July 2-5 and continue a Friday-Sunday schedule through Aug. 23. The full stakes calendar (all purses include funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund): Date: Race, Grade, Distance, Conditions, KTDF July 4: $175,000 Dade Park Dash, 5 1/2 F (T), 3yo, $87,500 July 5: $175,000 Pea Patch, 5 1/2 F (T), 3yo f, $87,500 July 18: $175,000 Jeff Hall Memorial, Listed, 6 1/2 F, 3yo and up, $87,500 July 19: $175,000 Twin Bridges, 6 F, 3yo and up f&m, $87,500 Aug. 1: $250,000 Hummingbird, Listed, 5 1/2 F (T), 3yo and up f&m, $125,000 $200,000 Riverside Rush, 5 1/2 F (T), 2yo, $100,000 Aug. 2: $300,000 Green River Island, Listed, 1 1/16 M (T), 3yo and up, $150,000 $250,000 Pucker Up, Listed, 1 1/8 M (T), 3yo f, $125,000 $250,000 Water Tower, 1 1/8 M (T), 3yo and up, $125,000 $250,000 Sunkissed, Listed, 1 M (T), 3yo and up f&m, $125,000 $250,000 Tri-State Turf Sprint, Listed, 5 1/2 F (T), 3yo and up, $125,000 Aug. 9: $400,000 Ellis Park Derby, Listed, 1 M, 3yo, $200,000 $250,000 Ellis Park Juvenile, 7 F, 2yo, $125,000 $250,000 Ellis Park Debutante, 7 F, 2yo, $125,000 $200,000 Groupie Doll, Listed, 1 M, 3yo and up f&m, $100,000 $200,000 R.A. "Cowboy" Jones, 1 M, 3yo and up, $100,000 $200,000 Audubon Oaks, 7 F, 3yo f, $100,000 Aug. 23: $175,000 Ellis Park Turf, 1 1/16 M (T), 3yo and up f&m, $87,500 For more information about the live racing season at Ellis Park, visit ellisparkowensborogaming.com