Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the company has completed its purchase of Ellis Park Racing & Gaming in Henderson for $79 million. In acquiring Ellis Park, officials indicate that Churchill Downs Incorporated also assumes the opportunity to construct a track extension facility with historical racing machines in Owensboro.
CDI Chief Executive Officer Bill Carstanjen said in a release that their team is already hard at work in both Henderson and Owensboro. In the coming days, he added, they look forward to sharing more about the future plans to invest in the racing infrastructure at Ellis Park and to drive significant purse improvement through the Owensboro historical racing opportunity.
The purchase of Ellis Park by CDI follows the approval of the transaction by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Officials indicate the transaction was funded with cash on hand and through CDI’s existing credit facility.
According to officials, Ellis Park, located north of the Ohio River and just south of Evansville, celebrated 100 years of racing this year. In addition to being recognized as the historic home of summer Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky, Ellis Park also features a gaming facility venue with approximately 300 historical racing machines.
Churchill Downs Incorporated, meanwhile, is an industry-leading racing, online wagering and gaming entertainment company anchored by its iconic flagship event, the Kentucky Derby, according to officials. CDI reportedly owns and operates five gaming entertainment venues with approximately 4,200 historical racing machines in Kentucky. Officials also said CDI owns and operates TwinSpires, one of the largest and most profitable online wagering platforms for horse racing in the United States and it has eight sportsbooks. Officials indicate CDI is also a leader in brick-and-mortar casino gaming in eight states with approximately 11,800 slot machines and video lottery terminals and 250 table games.
