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Racing at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Ellis Park's 2021 racing season is only five weeks away, with the trickle of horse vans and trailers bringing in the racing stock soon to become a steady stream.
Western Kentucky's annual summer race meet opens Sunday June 27 and closes Saturday Sept. 4, with racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays along with Thursday July 1. Ellis Park will operate at full capacity following last year's pandemic-mandated health measures that prevented having general admission and limited reserved seating.
Horses were allowed entry into the Ellis backstretch earlier this month, with daily training commencing May 13.
Stall space is especially coveted this year at Ellis Park. That's because Churchill Downs, which is replacing its turf course, will be closed for its normal summer off-season stabling and training. The Louisville market is a significant source of horses for Ellis Park's race meet, with many Churchill-based horsemen making day trips to Henderson to race during the summer. However, area training centers and Churchill's satellite Trackside training facility will continue as major suppliers of horses for the Ellis racing programs.