Ellis Park concluded its 39-day summer meet on September 1 with what it termed “solid results” for a season that owner Ron Geary regarded as critical to the track’s future.

The track reported an increase in daily attendance and a slight decline in average daily all-source wagering.

On-track attendance averaged 3,022 daily, up more than 2% compared with the daily average of 2,979 for 2007. The daily all-source handle for the 2008 meet averaged $2,002,042 compared with $2,066,316 for the 2007 meet, a decline of 3%.
 
The figures do not reflect the loss of the 4th of July holiday weekend or the figures for the 2007 Claiming Crown.
 
The cumulative all-source handle of $78,080,000 ranked fifth of 26 tracks operating in the United States in July and August behind Saratoga Race Course, Del Mar, Arlington Park, and Monmouth Park, according to a press release from the track.
 
“I am thrilled we are included with such well-respected racetracks," Geary said. "Ellis Park’s efforts to broaden our distribution system through [advance-deposit wagering] contracts definitely helped, but I am certain a rich tradition of Kentucky Thoroughbred racing made a difference as well.”

Ellis Park missed its usual July 4 opening day when Geary and Kentucky horsemen could not agree on the distribution of advance-deposit wagering revenue, which threatened the entire meet.
 
Geary and horsemen reached a deal on July 5 under which horsemen agreed to disseminate Ellis’s simulcast signal to all ADW outlets for all live racing at Ellis. The track agreed to contribute to the purse fund an amount equal to 6% of ADW handle or one-third of the takeout from wagers made through ADW companies on Ellis races, whichever was greater. The track opened its 85th season on July 11.

Average daily advance deposit wagering, which includes Television Game Network, HorseRacing TV, YouBet.com and XpressBet, was $173,688 compared with a daily average handle of $92,871 for 2007. The 87% increase in daily average handle, combined with the increased share going into the purse fund as a result of the settlement with horsemen, resulted in two 5% purse increases during the last several weeks of the meet.

“In light of all we faced the first of July, I am perfectly content with the outcome of the Ellis Park 2008 live meet,” Geary said. “I am looking forward to continuing the trend upward and onward in coming years.”

The meet’s leading trainer was Kelly Ackerman, who sent out 15 winners. Leading owner was Circle S Ranch (Mari George) with 11 winners, and jockey Victor Lebron ranked atop the jockey standings with 62 winners. Lyndie Wade was the leading apprentice jockey with 45 winners.