by Frank Angst

The upcoming Ellis Park meeting that owner Ron Geary considers make-or-break looks likely to begin on July 4 without the benefit of advance-deposit wagering revenue.

Kentucky horsemen have not reached an agreement with Ellis on ADW, typically Internet wagering sites. The horsemen failed to reach an agreement during the previous Churchill Downs meeting where horsemen refused to allow the Louisville track to export its signal to most ADW outlets.

Geary has more common ground with the horsemen than some owners in that he favors sending the track’s signal to all major ADW outlets. The Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group, which is working with horsemen’s groups in several states to negotiate ADW deals, also favors opening signal access but wants an economic model that commits 33% of ADW revenue to purses.

“The problem is the existing account wagering model is broken and needs to be fixed,” said Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group President Bob Reeves. “Just continuing to make deals on the broken model doesn’t really help the industry.”

Ellis is scheduled to open its live season on July 4 and continue racing through Labor Day. Geary said in March he could close Ellis Park or sell the track if it does not enjoy a successful meeting. Geary has offered a phase-in ADW plan, that would gradually increase the amount of ADW money committed to purses over the next several years.

Geary reported Ellis lost $2.2-million last year but he had hoped a return to ADW sites Television Games Network and Youbet.com would help the track increase handle in 2008. With no agreement with the horsemen, the track could face additional losses.

Geary already had expressed concern that the track would have difficulty attracting horses as slots-enhanced purses in Indiana would likely lure horsemen. While Reeves understands the difficulties Ellis faces, he said it is important for horsemen and racetracks to reach an agreement that works for all parties.

“You can’t go down this road with the sacrifices people are making out here and make a lot of exceptions,” Reeves said. “You can’t do it. Look at the Calder horsemen. You have a lot of people throughout the United States making huge sacrifices. They know it’s not good now but they hope it’s going to get better later on. They know the future’s in ADW and it is.”

Frank Angst is a Thoroughbred Times senior writer