Thunderstorm Forces Ellis to Cancel Races
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Photo: Ellis Park Photo
Jockeys in the Ellis Park paddock waiting for a thunderstorm to pass July 29
Ellis Park canceled its last two races July 29 after a thunderstorm blew through the area, causing overflowed drains and standing water on the track.
Track superintendent Glenn Thompson told track officials that he thought he could have the track ready to race in 30 minutes once the storm passed. But because the horses for the seventh race, the allowance feature, were already in the paddock for about 40 minutes waiting for the rain to subside, the decision was made to call off the seventh and eighth races in the interest of safety.
"By the finish line, the drains were completely full and the water that was coming from the grandstand had nowhere to go," Ellis Park racing secretary Dan Bork said. "Essentially we had a small lake at the finish line. ... Thirty minutes from now, the track is going to be fine. But these horses have been in the paddock for 40 minutes already."
Applauding the decision was Tom VanMeter of Lexington, who co-owns seventh-race contender Remember Lucy with his son and trainer, William VanMeter.
"I drove three hours, but I'm glad not to run her," Tom VanMeter said. "Safety first—for jocks and horses. Good call."
Racing resumes at 12:50 p.m. CDT July 30.