Ellis Park maintenance staffer ‘Heavy' Watson dies

The driver whose tractor damaged the inner rail on the Ellis main track Friday during a routine resurfacing later died from the medical emergency that caused the accident.

Ellis released a statement Tuesday that said Dorris “Heavy” Watson, a member of the track maintenance staff for nearly a quarter-century, subsequently died at a local hospital. The press release said Watson began his tenure at Ellis in 1997 and “was a constant and beloved presence, particularly on the backside track area. ‘Heavy’ will be missed by all of us that were blessed to know him.”

The damage to the rail caused Ellis to move two main-track Friday races to the turf course, but the rail was repaired in time for Saturday action.

◗ With no stakes at Ellis until a slew of $100,000 previews toward the Kentucky Downs meet are run next weekend (Aug. 7-8), allowance races continue to serve as daily highlights at a 31-day meet that runs through Sept. 4.

Three allowances (races 4, 5, and 7) are on an eight-race Friday card, while back-to-back allowances (races 6 and 7) highlight an eight-race Saturday card. First post every day is 12:50 p.m. Central.