Churchill Downs, Inc. projects Ellis Park maiden special weight purses to reach $100,000 this summer, a significant increase from last year’s $71,000 figure, according to Gary Palmisano, Jr., vice president of racing for the gaming company.
The boost aims to narrow the gap between Kentucky’s premier racing venues and its secondary tracks, creating more consistent purse structures across the state.
“The goal is to have $100,000 [MSW] races across Kentucky all year, and we’re getting awfully close. And I think this summer at Ellis Park will be another step in that direction,” Palmisano said during Wednesday’s Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) advisory committee meeting.
The planned increases will be funded through KTDF money transfers from Kentucky Downs and allocations from other CDI Kentucky gaming operations.
While MSW purses represent just one metric of racing health, they serve as a key industry barometer for the caliber of horses a track can attract.
Ellis Park’s MSW purses have steadily increased since CDI acquired the Western Kentucky track. Values rose from $60,000 in 2022 (under previous management) to $70,000 in 2023 and $71,000 last year.
By comparison, Kentucky Downs projects $170,000 MSW purses for its seven-day all-turf boutique meet in August and September, matching last year’s figure after increases from $150,000 in 2022 and $135,000 in 2021.
Churchill Downs currently offers $120,000 for 3-and-up MSW races during its April-June meet, maintaining levels established in 2022.
Keeneland raised its spring MSW purses to $110,000 for 3-year-olds and up this April, following three years at the $100,000 level.
Turfway Park, also owned by CDI, offered $80,000 MSW purses during its 2024-25 winter/spring meet, up from $70,000 the previous two seasons and $62,000 in 2021-22.
During the meeting, Bill Landes III, KTDF advisory committee vice-chair representing the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, expressed concern about lower-level racing opportunities at Ellis.
“The only comment I’ve gotten this past week is the demise of the little guy and the claiming horses and whatnot,” Landes said. “So I hope when you write your condition book that you keep that in mind. Because you are competing against Hawthorne, and you’ll be competing against Horseshoe Indianapolis.”
Ellis racing secretary Baley Hare responded with a culinary analogy: “We always need the big steak. Or the big lobster tails are nice, but you still need the potatoes. So you can’t forget about the sides.”
Palmisano also addressed recovery efforts following mid-April flooding at Ellis Park, which is situated near the Ohio River.
“We did take on water on the backside. We did have some electrical poles that are down that are being replaced,” Palmisano explained. Horsemen were originally scheduled to move in this week, but that timeline has been pushed back to approximately June 1.
The flooding compounded earlier wind damage to several barn roofs, complicating repair efforts. Palmisano noted crews are also working to patch portions of the turf course that experienced prolonged standing water.
The KTDF, which helps fund these purse increases, receives revenue from three-quarters of 1% of all money wagered on live Thoroughbred races and historical horse race gaming in Kentucky, plus 1% of all money wagered on Thoroughbred races via inter-track wagering and whole-card simulcasting.
The advisory board approved the Ellis Park purse projection allotment requests on May 7. Final approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation is still pending.
