Ellis Park plans to reopen for simulcasting Wednesday

Ellis Park is tentatively scheduled to reopen for simulcasting on Wednesday.

The Northwestern Kentucky track's grandstand terrace, adjacent to the main grandstand

structure, sustained heavy damage, as did the paddock, jockeys' quarters and

infield tote board as a result of a tornado that hit the track at approximately

2 a.m. (CST) Sunday morning. The tornado also destroyed 10 barns in the Ellis

Park stable area and caused light to moderate damage to several others. Three of

the 158 horses on the grounds died from injuries suffered in the storm.

Clean-up efforts are currently focused on repairing damage to the clubhouse

and securing the grounds to allow patrons a safe return. Those efforts include

repairing damage to the clubhouse roof, fencing and repairing blown-out doors.

On Wednesday afternoon, engineers certified the track's clubhouse, main

grandstand, the Sky Theatre and the lower level of the jockeys' quarters as

structurally safe.

"We are taking deliberate steps to make sure that the facility will be safe

and secure for our patrons to return next week," Ellis Park Vice President and

General Manager Paul Kuerzi said. "To hopefully be up and operating so soon

after this amount of devastation is really a testament to the outpouring of

support we've received and to all our employees who have worked so hard through

all of this. Our reopening will be a big morale boost, not only to our staff,

but to the whole community."

Ellis Park officials hope that all 108 remaining horses on the grounds can be

moved out of the barn area by the end of the week to allow clean-up efforts to

proceed. There was no racing at Ellis Park at the time of the storm, but horses

were on the grounds because the track and stable area remained open for

training.