HENDERSON, Ky. — The remainder of the Churchill Downs spring meet will resume at Ellis Park in Henderson on Saturday.


What You Need To Know

  • The remainder of the Spring Meet will be held at Ellis Park, near Evansville, Indiana beginning June 7

  • Gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the first race is at 12:50 p.m.

  • General admission is free at the park

  • Racing at Ellis Park is beginning about a month before its normally scheduled  summer meet

The change of venue comes after 12 horses died at Churchill Downs since the meet began. The Horse Racing and Integrity Authority (HISA) is currently investigating those deaths. 

Gates will open at the track at 10:00 a.m. The first race starts at 12:50 p.m. central.

Staff at Ellis Park has had about a week to prepare for the return of racing, which normally begins in early July.

Matt Presley is the general manager of Ellis Park. Ellis Park is a thoroughbred racetrack near Henderson, Kentucky, just south of Evansville, Indiana. It is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. It is hosting Churchill Downs Spring 2023 Meet because of recent horse deaths. (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)
Matt Presley is the general manager of Ellis Park. Ellis Park is a thoroughbred racetrack near Henderson, Kentucky, just south of Evansville, Indiana. It is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. It is hosting Churchill Downs Spring 2023 Meet because of recent horse deaths. (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

“This team here at Ellis Park was more than happy to jump on board and get the ball rolling,” Matt Presley, the tracks general manager, said.

On Friday, Presley said crews are finishing up the final touches on a few things to be ready for Saturday’s race.

He adds he’s confident in the track’s racing surface.

“It’s going to be hot but we’re used to that here at Ellis Park, we run our meet in the middle of summer so nothing out of the ordinary for us here,” Presley said.

The excitement for the spring meet is also being felt by racing fans who have been coming to Ellis Park for decades. Jim Brady, of Evansville, said while he won’t make it out Saturday, he’ll be spending plenty of afternoons trackside.

“I think it’s a good thing for Ellis Park, this has been here for over 100 years now and it's a tradition for a lot of people from this area, they’re really excited about it,” Brady said.

With great weather in the forecast, all that’s left is for the gates to open in the morning.

“It’s going to be hot but we’re used to that here at Ellis Park, we run our meet in the middle of summer so nothing out of the ordinary for us here,” Presley said.

Racing at Ellis Park will be held both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Starting next weekend, racing will go from Thursday to Sunday.