Churchill-Ellis overlap approved

The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Monday approved 2007 dates for the state's racetracks in a schedule that includes an overlap over the July 4 weekend between Churchill Downs and Ellis Park.

The overlap - from July 4, when Ellis will begin its meet, to July 8, when Churchill will close its 52-day spring meet - had been agreed to by officials from Churchill and Ellis when Ron Geary, a Louisville businessman, reached an agreement to buy Ellis from Churchill this summer. The two tracks are expected to cooperate on writing their condition books for the overlap in order to avoid attracting the same horses.

The schedule approved by the authority totals 274 live racing dates. Turfway Park will run from Jan. 1 to April 5, Sept. 5 to Oct. 4, and Nov. 25 to Dec. 31. Keeneland will run April 6-27 and Oct. 5-27. Churchill will run from April 28 to July 8 and Oct. 28 to Nov. 24, and Ellis Park will run from July 4 to Sept. 3. Kentucky Downs, the grass-racing track in southern Kentucky, will run Sept. 15-25.

Also Monday, the authority declined to grant a waiver allowing European-based jockeys to wear helmets during this year's Breeders' Cup that do not conform to the authority's safety standards for helmets. The Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Monday approved 2007 dates for the state?s racetracks in a schedule that includes an overlap over the July 4 weekend between Churchill Downs and Ellis Park.

The overlap ? from July 4, when Ellis will begin its meet, to July 8, when Churchill will close its 52-day spring meet ? had been agreed to by officials from Churchill and Ellis when Ron Geary, a Louisville businessman, reached an agreement to buy Ellis from Churchill this summer. The two tracks are expected to cooperate on writing their condition books for the overlap in order to avoid attracting the same horses.

The schedule approved by the authority totals 274 live racing dates. Turfway Park will run from Jan. 1 to April 5, Sept. 5 to Oct. 4, and Nov. 25 to Dec. 31. Keeneland will run April 6-27 and Oct. 5-27. Churchill will run from April 28 to July 8 and Oct. 28 to Nov. 24, and Ellis Park will run from July 4 to Sept. 3. Kentucky Downs, the grass-racing track in southern Kentucky, will run Sept. 15-25.

Also Monday, the authority declined to grant a waiver allowing European-based jockeys to wear helmets during this year?s Breeders? Cup that do not conform to the authority?s safety standards for helmets. The Breeders? Cup is scheduled for Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.