The historic water tower at Ellis Park, a fixture of the panorama on the Henderson, Ky., observe, is coming down.
Churchill Downs Inc., which purchased Ellis Park in 2022, introduced Nov. 21 that regardless of devoted efforts to protect it, it could be eliminated within the coming weeks because of essential security issues associated to its structural integrity.
A lot of the growing old facility at Ellis Park wants enchancment or modernization, which CDI officers acknowledge. Talking final summer time within the observe’s Sky Theatre earlier than a Henderson Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner viewers, CDI CEO Invoice Carstanjen promised solely “incremental enhancements,” as reported by The Hendersonian.
“There was a variety of neglect of this facility over a few many years,” The Hendersonian reported Carstanjen telling the viewers.
“Infrastructure is the very first thing we’ve to repair,” he added per the publication, noting that patrons had voiced they needed the Ellis Park grandstand to “be clear, spruced up.”
In line with CDI, the corporate has invested greater than $8.5 million in enhancements and repairs on the property, with an extra $5 million slated for additional enhancements in 2025. CDI is additionally investing a projected $100 million in creating Owensboro Racing & Gaming, an off-track historic horse racing gaming facility and an annex of Ellis Park. The ability in Owensboro, Ky., a spotlight of CDI since its acquisition of Ellis Park, is scheduled to open within the first quarter of 2025.
HHR gaming has been extremely worthwhile for racetrack operators and fueled purse development at Kentucky racetracks. CDI, which owns quite a few racetracks with HHR gaming, reported file web revenue of $65.4 million within the third quarter of 2024.
CDI mentioned in a launch from Tonya Abeln, vp of communications for the corporate, that “given the shortage of performance and speedy deterioration of the water tower, the rising dangers related to the unsound construction compelled CDI, upon advisement, to make the troublesome choice to proceed with its removing earlier than the tip of the 12 months.”
“We perceive the deep emotional connection the water tower holds for our followers and the area people,” Matthew Pressley, basic supervisor of Ellis Park, mentioned within the launch. “This choice was not made flippantly, as we prioritize the security of everybody who visits our facility. We’re dedicated to exploring significant methods to honor the historic significance of the water tower, making certain that its legacy is well known and remembered for future generations.”
One other signature aspect of Ellis Park—soybeans rising within the infield, the way it earned the nickname “The Pea Patch”—was additionally absent this 12 months, owing to the necessity for a retention pond to seize water as a part of a backstretch enchancment challenge.
Abeln instructed BloodHorse that CDI’s funding in Ellis Park has included or will embrace the next (with prices in parentheses):
- Water tower substitute ($1.5 million)
- Water therapy plant restore ($70,000)
- Stormwater enhancements ($3.3 million, with one other $2.5 million deliberate in 2025)
- Grandstand restore ($2 million, with one other $2 million deliberate for 2025)
- Digicam/clocker tower replacements ($850,000, with an extra $80,000 deliberate for 2025)
- Barn enhancements ($200,000)
- Car parking zone lighting ($150,000)
- Further miscellaneous enchancment tasks ($300,000, with one other $100,000 deliberate for 2025)
