It's Never Too Late
8/26/09 by Tom LaMarra
quote concerning Ellis Park in western Kentucky.
“If this is a funeral, I’m going to start going to funerals,” he said.
Hancock was speaking of the fact that, even though Ellis Park owner Ron Geary has
indicated there’s a chance the track won’t race next year, he hasn’t given up—and
neither have the track’s patrons.
Ellis Park, if you’ve never been, is a cool place to hang out and bet horses. Unlike
other Kentucky tracks, it has a strong Midwest feel; you might as well be in Illinois
or Missouri.
On Aug. 22, the Kentucky Equine Education Project held a pro-horse industry rally
at Ellis Park that got some media attention. The crowd was good, but crowds of
4,000-6,000 on Saturdays and Sundays are commonplace at Ellis Park.
Geary says racetrack video lottery terminals are the key to keeping the track open.
He’s not alone, of course.
But what Ellis Park and other Kentucky Thoroughbred tracks have done is try, even
in the face of very difficult circumstances—night racing at Churchill Downs, dollar
Friday nights at Turfway Park, and pretty good marketing and ad campaigns at
Keeneland.
Kentucky harness racing has a pretty good opportunity upcoming Sept. 6 when
the “super night” of sires stakes finals worth more than $2 million is held. Thus far,
the only thing I have heard about it has come from the PA system at The Red Mile
during live racing programs.
It doesn’t look like the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is going to graciously
step in this year to promote the event, and besides, the commission doesn’t have
any cash lying around these days. There have been no indications the track will
promote it.
Maybe KEEP can have a little rally at the track that evening to bring some public
attention on Kentucky harness racing. At this late date, that might be the only
option.
Then again, maybe what some people tell me really is true even though I refuse to
believe it: It’s too late, Tom.
8/26/09 by Tom LaMarra
quote concerning Ellis Park in western Kentucky.
“If this is a funeral, I’m going to start going to funerals,” he said.
Hancock was speaking of the fact that, even though Ellis Park owner Ron Geary has
indicated there’s a chance the track won’t race next year, he hasn’t given up—and
neither have the track’s patrons.
Ellis Park, if you’ve never been, is a cool place to hang out and bet horses. Unlike
other Kentucky tracks, it has a strong Midwest feel; you might as well be in Illinois
or Missouri.
On Aug. 22, the Kentucky Equine Education Project held a pro-horse industry rally
at Ellis Park that got some media attention. The crowd was good, but crowds of
4,000-6,000 on Saturdays and Sundays are commonplace at Ellis Park.
Geary says racetrack video lottery terminals are the key to keeping the track open.
He’s not alone, of course.
But what Ellis Park and other Kentucky Thoroughbred tracks have done is try, even
in the face of very difficult circumstances—night racing at Churchill Downs, dollar
Friday nights at Turfway Park, and pretty good marketing and ad campaigns at
Keeneland.
Kentucky harness racing has a pretty good opportunity upcoming Sept. 6 when
the “super night” of sires stakes finals worth more than $2 million is held. Thus far,
the only thing I have heard about it has come from the PA system at The Red Mile
during live racing programs.
It doesn’t look like the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is going to graciously
step in this year to promote the event, and besides, the commission doesn’t have
any cash lying around these days. There have been no indications the track will
promote it.
Maybe KEEP can have a little rally at the track that evening to bring some public
attention on Kentucky harness racing. At this late date, that might be the only
option.
Then again, maybe what some people tell me really is true even though I refuse to
believe it: It’s too late, Tom.
