Handle, field size increase at 2024 Ellis Park meet

Average handle per race and average field size at the Ellis Park 2024 meet both jumped significantly compared to the regularly scheduled meet at the track last year, according to an analysis by Daily Racing Form.

Average handle per race was $318,958, up 14.4 percent over the average handle of $278,779 last year. Field size jumped from 7.99 horses per race last year to 8.50 horses, as Ellis shifted more of its racing to the turf.

The Ellis Park meet this year ran from July 4 to Aug. 26. Last year, Ellis Park ran from June 10 to Aug. 28, but the June dates were originally scheduled for Churchill Downs, which is owned by the parent company of Ellis. The June dates were moved to Ellis after Churchill canceled the remainder of its meet due to concern over a spate of fatalities at the track earlier in the meet.

For the analysis, DRF compared the full 2024 meet to the 2023 dates that were originally assigned to Ellis Park, July 7-Aug. 28. The full 2024 meet had 25 racing dates, while the comparable meet in 2023 had 24 race dates.

Ellis Park ran on a Saturday-through-Monday schedule in 2024, while the regular weekly schedule in 2023 was on a Friday-through-Sunday schedule. Several racing dates were canceled during the 2023 meet due to weather.

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Total wagering for the 2024 meet was $72.7 million, up 20.2 percent compared to total wagering of $60.5 million during the originally scheduled meet. The 2024 meet benefited from a July 4 card.

The average purse during the 2024 meet was $66,443, up 3.0 percent compared to the average purse of $64,521 in 2023. The purse figures include massive subsidies from casino gambling in Kentucky, which is funneled through purse supplements available to horses eligible for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

The handle gains at Ellis Park continue a remarkable string for Kentucky tracks over the past decade, especially for the two minor tracks on the circuit, Ellis and Turfway. Handle at both tracks has increased dramatically over the past three years as the purse supplements have grown. Churchill purchased both tracks over the past five years in order to capitalize on casino gambling, which is only available to licensed racetrack owners.

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