A historical day at the Downs: Churchill races run at Ellis Park

HENDERSON, Ky. − The races were run from Churchill Down’s condition book.

The prize money was Churchill Down’s prize money.

But almost nothing — from the outriders to the silks to even Equibase — identified Saturday’s races as Churchill Downs racing at Ellis Park. (Equibase even lists Churchill Downs as no racing. Instead, all races previously part of Churchill Down’s Spring Meet are now listed under Ellis Park.)

The only sign of horse racing history sat idle.

And that's exactly what Churchill Downs was hoping.

The equine ambulance spent five busy weeks back in Louisville, following the death of 12 horses.

On Saturday, the only Churchill Downs-branded equipment sat silent on the backside of Ellis Park. That vehicle is a symbol of the reason Churchill Downs, for the first time in history, stopped racing at the famed track and relocated the remainder of its Spring Meet to Henderson. All because of the death of its athletes.

For those on the front side, the most historical day in recent racing history went unannounced.

It was just another day at the track that many compare to like being at the state fair − with a soybean field in the middle − no big board, no big hats and no big attention to the fallen.

The only evidence of the early change of venue for patrons and bettors seemed to be the long lines for a drink where there was just one bartender and far fewer betting windows open.

Even the racing programs were just plain white sheet paper.

Churchill Downs acquired Ellis Park last fall, so "they are not prepared because they've owned it for about a lunch break," said one trainer, who asked not to be named over concerns the track would retaliate for the comment.

More: Churchill Downs agrees to buy Kentucky racetrack Ellis Park in $79 million deal

For Dennis Lanham of Louisville, he likes the "country setting" of Ellis Park.

"It's more of a laid-back type of surrounding, where people feel closer together," Lanham said, who makes the drive west along the Ohio River once a year. "It's not such a monstrous, cavernous setting."

But while one man loved the two-hour drive with a time change, Andrew Klein found it "annoying."

"A nice 20-minute drive to Churchill turned into two hours," he said. "But I came for the love of the game."

For those who work at the track, like Sonya Herman who works at the tack shop on the backside, they weren't expecting to be working but rushed this week to get things ready.

"Horse people adapt," Herman said. "They can do anything."

The people it really affected the most were the horse trainers, many of who spent their morning training at Churchill Downs before running home to shower and then hitting the road west.

More: Churchill Downs: What will it take for racing to return to famous track?

Trainer Ian Wilkes started his day training horses at Churchill Downs, then went to Skylight Training Center to train more horses before heading to Ellis Park for the second race that Stand For Freedom ran last.

"It’s like we do in the summer," Wilkes said.

But multiple trainers The Courier Journal spoke with who ran horses on Saturday called the three-week-early move to Henderson the same word: inconvenient.

And Churchill Downs must be aware of it because the company is offering trainers $150 per day and owners $500 per horse "to help with shipping costs." The Courier Journal asked Churchill Downs about the “travel subsidy” incentives and is awaiting their response.

The incentives to race at Ellis Park come a week after Churchill Downs announced a new safety initiative at its premier track that removed incentives for trainers.

More: Churchill Downs, HISA announce new safety measures

Wayne Catalano, a former jockey turned trainer, also was training at Churchill early Saturday morning before racing out of Ellis Park during the first race: a maiden auction in which his 2-year-old filly Zadorsky finished second.

"Obviously being at Churchill and walking out of your stall and to the paddock is more convenient, he said. "And the horses are more adapted to the track we're training at, but we're happy to be racing."

That racing, though, is still at a cost, mostly to trainers and owners, who are experiencing waitlists to get their horses vanned out to Ellis Park at a higher price. But trainers and owners The Courier Journal spoke with shrugged in frustration at the topic, saying the horse's safety came first.

Typically trainers are hoping to make money racing out at Churchill and then move to Ellis. Now, they're facing moving before they've made money.

"It’s good that we’re continuing," Wilkes said. "We work awfully hard to make it safe. Are we going to be at zero? We’re never going to be at zero. But do we want something to happen? No."

Catalano said: "We're just happy to be here."

And on Sunday, the racing, the quality of horses and the purses will be even bigger than Henderson usually sees.

It's a slate of races, meant to be run in Louisville, now forever viewed with an asterisk; done in the name of horse safety.

Reach Stephanie Kuzydym at skuzydym@courier-journal.com. Follow her for updates on Twitter at @stephkuzy.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Churchill Downs continues Spring Meet at Ellis Park after horse deaths