Courtesy Ellis Park
Saratoga Casino and Hospitality Group has taken over full ownership of Ellis Park, a thoroughbred track and instant racing machine parlor in Henderson, Ky.
The sales transaction of Ellis Park to Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group was complete and the group became the official new owners of the property on July 30, casino officials said.
“We’re very excited to own such an historic property,” said Daniel Gerrity, president of Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group. “We look forward to learning even more about the Henderson and Evansville (Ky.) communities, and we’re eager to work toward our goal of delivering an experience that goes above and beyond guest expectations.”
He said Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group sent a group of executives to Henderson to evaluate potential areas to improve upon, and to develop a plan to enhance the overall guest experience.
Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group said here are no plans to make any changes to the current management team at Ellis Park.
“Our team at Ellis Park looks forward to working with Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group,” said Jeff Hall, general manager at Ellis Park. “We’re excited to improve on the great strides we’ve made as a racing and entertainment destination.”
Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group is a subsidiary of Saratoga Harness Racing Inc., which oversees the daily operations of Saratoga Casino Hotel and Saratoga Casino Blackhawk in Black Hawk, Colo. In 2012, it purchased a 30 percent minority stake in Ellis Park.
Officials said the partnership allowed Ellis Park to invest in Instant Racing Machines that supplemented their thoroughbred racing product.
The most recent transaction transferred the remaining 70 percent ownership stake to Saratoga Casino & Hospitality Group.
Ellis Park is home to a historic thoroughbred track, a simulcast racing mezzanine and the instant racing machines.
The Ellis Park Race Course, originally Dade Park, was built in 1922 by the Green River Jockey Club. The track has survived barn fires, damages from the flooding of the Ohio River in 1937 and tornado damage in 2005, but has continued on.