By Marty McGee
Daily Racing Form
Ron Geary, the owner of Ellis Park, said Wednesday night he is closing the 86-year-old track in Henderson, Ky., where a 44-day meet was scheduled to begin Friday.
Geary, who bought Ellis from Churchill Downs in September 2006, made the decision after a U.S. District Court judge in Owensboro, Ky., ruled Wednesday against his suit for an injunction to permit Ellis to offer account-deposit wagering on Ellis races.
Geary told the Louisville Courier-Journal on Wednesday night: "I don't have any plans on opening it again as a racetrack. That's for sure." A formal announcement was scheduled for Thursday morning at the track.
Officials with the Kentucky division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said that they hoped to continue negotiating with Geary over the divisive ADW issue and that horsemen would suffer if Ellis remained closed. The meet was scheduled to run through Sept. 1.
Owner closes Ellis Park over dispute....
