Ellis Park Water Tower to be Removed Over Safety Issues

The historic water tower at Ellis Park, a fixture of the landscape at the Henderson, Ky., track, is coming down. Churchill Downs Inc., which bought Ellis Park in 2022, announced Nov. 21 that despite dedicated efforts to preserve it, it would be removed in the coming weeks due to critical safety concerns related to its structural integrity. Much of the aging facility at Ellis Park needs improvement or modernization, which CDI officials acknowledge. Speaking last summer in the track's Sky Theatre before a Henderson Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner audience, CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen promised only "incremental improvements," as reported by The Hendersonian. "There was a lot of neglect of this facility over a couple of decades," The Hendersonian reported Carstanjen telling the audience. "Infrastructure is the first thing we have to fix," he added per the publication, noting that patrons had voiced they wanted the Ellis Park grandstand to "be clean, spruced up." According to CDI, the company has invested more than $8.5 million in enhancements and repairs on the property, with an additional $5 million slated for further improvements in 2025. CDI is also investing a projected $100 million in developing Owensboro Racing & Gaming, an off-track historical horse racing gaming facility and an annex of Ellis Park. The facility in Owensboro, Ky., a focus of CDI since its acquisition of Ellis Park, is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025. HHR gaming has been highly profitable for racetrack operators and fueled purse growth at Kentucky racetracks. CDI, which owns numerous racetracks with HHR gaming, reported record net income of $65.4 million in the third quarter of 2024. CDI said in a release from Tonya Abeln, vice president of communications for the company, that "given the lack of functionality and rapid deterioration of the water tower, the increasing risks associated with the unsound structure compelled CDI, upon advisement, to make the difficult decision to proceed with its removal before the end of the year." "We understand the deep emotional connection the water tower holds for our fans and the local community," Matthew Pressley, general manager of Ellis Park, said in the release. "This decision was not made lightly, as we prioritize the safety of everyone who visits our facility. We are committed to exploring meaningful ways to honor the historical significance of the water tower, ensuring that its legacy is celebrated and remembered for future generations." Another signature element of Ellis Park—soybeans growing in the infield, how it earned the nickname "The Pea Patch"—was also absent this year, owing to the need for a retention pond to capture water as part of a backstretch improvement project. Abeln told BloodHorse that CDI's investment in Ellis Park has included or will include the following (with costs in parentheses): Water tower replacement ($1.5 million) Water treatment plant repair ($70,000) Stormwater improvements ($3.3 million, with another $2.5 million planned in 2025) Grandstand repair ($2 million, with another $2 million planned for 2025) Camera/clocker tower replacements ($850,000, with an additional $80,000 planned for 2025) Barn improvements ($200,000) Parking lot lighting ($150,000) Additional miscellaneous improvement projects ($300,000, with another $100,000 planned for 2025)