HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) — Ellis Park opens Saturday with daily purses expected to average $210,000 during a summer meet featuring five stakes races worth $325,000.
The growth of Ellis Park’s Instant Racing game and a $1.35 million contribution from Kentucky Downs will increase the track’s daily purse average from $155,000 last year. Highlighting the schedule is the $100,000 Grade 3 Groupie Doll for fillies and mares on Aug. 6. The one-mile race was renamed for the 2012-13 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champion and two-time Eclipse Award winner who raced three times at Ellis Park and won the 2011 stakes there.
That day also marks the return of the $75,000 Ellis Park Juvenile for 2-year-olds over seven furlongs. The meet concludes Sept. 5 with the $50,000 Cliff Guilliams Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf.