Portions of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio have been impacted by flooding after heavy rainfall last week, including around the racetracks Ellis Park near Henderson, Ky., and Belterra Park on the outskirts of Cincinnati.
Recent aerial photographs taken by news crews and professional drone photographers show the immediate areas outside the Ellis Park grandstand and parking area flooded, along with a road that leads to the backstretch stable gate. Much of the track infield is also under water in the photographs.
Ellis Park is located just north of the Ohio River, the waterway that typically separates Kentucky from Indiana and Ohio. However, this region's Kentucky/Indiana boundary is north of the river, leaving Ellis Park in the Bluegrass State. The nearby town of Evansville, Ind., has also experienced some flooding in river areas. A levee provides Ellis Park with a degree of protection.
Ellis Park closed its simulcasting and gaming operations last week as the Ohio River rose, as did the casino at Belterra Park, which is similarly located near the river in Southwest Ohio.
Neither track is currently racing. Belterra Park is scheduled to open May 1 for its meet, and Ellis Park races during the summer after the conclusion of the Churchill Downs spring meet.
"We're continuing to monitor the situation," said Gary Palmisano, vice president of racing for Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Ellis Park. "The river is scheduled to crest (April 12), and we are hopeful that once we get past that point the water will begin to recede and crews can begin the clean up efforts and preparations for the upcoming race meet."
Ellis Park's Owensboro gaming facility, which has historical horse racing devices, is also currently closed.
Ellis Park had been scheduled to open its backstretch May 5 for stabling and training before its July 3-Aug. 25 meet. Some of the horses stabled there are vanned to race at other tracks during the spring, such as Churchill Downs or Horseshoe Indianapolis.
David Strow, vice president of corporate communications for Boyd Gaming, said no horses were on site at Belterra when it was closed due to the Ohio River flooding, as they were not scheduled to arrive until next week.
"We are still conducting clean up and evaluating the condition of the track and the barn area. Until that process is complete, we won't have additional information on the start of our upcoming season," he added.
According to a social media post, Belterra Park's casino reopened at 5 p.m. ET April 11.
