Founder Would Be Proud of Track

Summary

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This is a column about three men whose story line is bound together for Saturday's $600,000 Old National Bank Claiming Crown at Ellis Park.

The first, James Clinton Ellis, was responsible for turning a one- time harness racing flop into a Tri-State thoroughbred institution after purchasing the track then named Dade Park at a Henderson County receivership sale for $35,000. In the early 1920s, it was a slipshod operation carved out of the river bottom sticks. Miles from civilization, it was accessible only by dirt roads, often turned to mud, and a ferry boat. That didn't matter to Ellis, one of the wealthiest but down to earth and best loved men in the Midwest.

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Extract

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Founder Would Be Proud of Track

He took over in December, 1924. The following summer, the track offered 20 thoroughbred racing days, seven races daily....

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