Ellis Park Horse Racing

They’re at the gate…and they’re off! Horses and Henderson

Ellis Park is in the middle of their 101st live racing season.  What an incredible history. Our recent day at the races there is actually just a long line in our own personal history with the race course and thoroughbred racing in Kentucky. 

In general, the racing atmosphere is not for everyone. Ellis is a unique place, full of a wide variety people. However, they all have a singular question on their mind, “Who do you like in the next race?” And, based on who you ask you’ll get a variety of answers. You could be talking to a jockey’s wife who will obviously favor her husband’s horse.  You could be talking to someone who loved the “look” of a certain horse in the paddock. Or you might just happen upon a seasoned veteran of the races who will actually know each horse’s history and how fast their last workout was as well.  Someone else might have heard that a certain trainer is having a rough go these days and the horses may not be getting the training they need. This fabulous mix is just one of the reasons that we LOVE a day of live racing. It is so fabulously Kentucky.

With the race schedule of Churchill Downs being moved to Ellis for the remainder of the spring 2023 season, it is a great opportunity to take in this unique moment in their history. There will also be regularly scheduled live races each weekend through August of this year, here’s the schedule.

We made it a whole weekend in the area and also enjoyed several local parks.  We hiked the boardwalks at the Howell Wetlands and also hiked at Angel Mounds State Park, both in Evansville. Our fav meals were at Homer’s Barbecue and Farmer and Frenchman. 

Another big recommend is strolling Henderson’s Riverfront Park along the Ohio. Definitely take in the sunset there if you can.  Their downtown is such a great place to hang out.

We also wrote about Henderson earlier this spring if you’d like to read more about the John James Audubon State Park and more.