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Horse Racing Betting: Ellis Park to Close
By Jordan WaltersWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
| Horse Racing Betting at WagerWeb Racebook |
Ellis Park has survived floods and tornadoes over the 89 years that it has operated thoroughbred racing in Kentucky, but it appears that it’s not going to survive the dispute between its owner Ron Geary and the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (KHBPA). Geary has shut down the track after a judge ruled that the deal he had with the advanced deposit wagering companies allowed them to pay too small of a percentage of the race’s purses.
"90-percent of our revenues come from off-track, Internet, and television broadcast wagering," Geary noted. "The leadership of Kentucky HBPA (Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association) has an ongoing dispute with these ADWs (advanced deposit wagering companies) and Ellis Park is caught in the crossfire. It is shocking to think that the KHBPA would choose to close down Ellis Park rather than take advantage of the additional revenue already negotiated with the ADWs for 2008," Geary continued.
"They know it and they don't care. All the KHBPA is focused on is hurting the ADWs this year so they can negotiate a higher percentage next year. What they are doing is a scorched earth strategy with huge collateral damage to the Tri-State."
The summer meet at Ellis Park was set to begin for thoroughbred horse racing this Friday. The closing of the track means that Kentucky horsemen have nowhere to race in the state for most of the summer. The spring meet at Churchill Downs ends this weekend, and the nearest option is River Downs in Cincinnati.
