Ellis Park purses to average $210,000 per day

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Officials at Ellis Park announced this week that purses at the track’s summer meet will average $210,000 per day and will be supplemented by a $1.35 million contribution from sister track Kentucky Downs. Ellis also has reinstituted the $75,000 Ellis Park Juvenile, last run in 2008, as part of its annual showcase program, led by the $100,000 Groupie Doll Stakes on Aug. 6.

“I’m incredibly pumped about our upcoming meet,” Ellis racing secretary Dan Bork said in a media release. “It will be outstanding.”

Top jockeys such as Corey Lanerie, Robby Albarado, and Brian Hernandez Jr. are planning to ride primarily at Ellis during a 30-day meet that runs from July 4 to Sept. 5. Last year, purses averaged about $155,000 per day, and field size averaged 8.18 horses per race.

Including bonuses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, maiden special weight races will be worth $38,000 and allowance races up to $42,000.

◗ Jockey Sophie Doyle said she needs surgery on her fractured right collarbone and will be sidelined longer than initially expected. Doyle, 29, had been expected to be out six to eight weeks after being injured in a May 26 spill at Churchill but said via Twitter that her injury will require the insertion of a plate and pins.