Ellis Park: $4.125 million for 18 stakes; condition book now online

Horsemen: Ellis Park’s first condition book is now online at Equibase.com

Ellis Park news release by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photo)

HENDERSON, Ky. (Monday, June 8, 2026) – A record $4.125 million stakes schedule featuring 18 races will be offered during Ellis Park Racing & Gaming’s 2026 season, which runs from July 2-Aug. 23.

Highlighting the season is Ellis Park Summer Showcase Weekend on Aug. 1-2, which features seven turf stakes worth a combined $1.75 million. The two-day event includes two stakes Saturday and five Sunday, led by the $300,000 Green River Island Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed), $250,000 Pucker Up Stakes (Listed), $250,000 Sunkissed Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed), $250,000 Tri-State Turf Sprint Stakes (Listed), $250,000 Hummingbird Stakes (Listed), $250,000 Water Tower Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial and the $200,000 Riverside Rush Stakes.

Another marquee day on the calendar is Aug. 9, when Ellis Park Derby Day will feature six stakes worth a combined $1.5 million, including the $400,000 Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed) and $200,000 Groupie Doll Stakes (Listed). The program also includes the $250,000 Ellis Park Juvenile presented by Claiborne Farm, $250,000 Ellis Park Debutante, $200,000 Audubon Oaks and $200,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Memorial.

The meet will begin racing Thursday through Sunday from July 2-5 and continue a Friday-Sunday schedule through Aug. 23.

The full stakes calendar (all purses include funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund):

Ellis Park 2026 stakes schedule

Date Race Grade Distance Conditions KTDF

Saturday, July 4 $175,000 Dade Park Dash 5 ½ F (T) 3yo $87,500

Sunday, July 5 $175,000 Pea Patch 5 ½ F (T) 3yo f $87,500

Saturday, July 18 $175,000 Jeff Hall Memorial Listed 6 ½ F 3yo and up $87,500

Sunday, July 19 $175,000 Twin Bridges 6 F 3yo and up f&m $87,500

Saturday, Aug. 1 $250,000 Hummingbird Listed 5 ½ F (T) 3yo and up f&m $125,000

Saturday, Aug. 1 $200,000 Riverside Rush 5 ½ F (T) 2yo $100,000

Sunday, Aug. 2 $300,000 Green River Island Listed 1 1/16 M (T) 3yo and up $150,000

Sunday, Aug. 2 $250,000 Pucker Up Listed 1 1/8 M (T) 3yo f $125,000

Sunday, Aug. 2 $250,000 Water Tower 1 1/8 M (T) 3yo and up $125,000

Sunday, Aug. 2 $250,000 Sunkissed Listed 1 M (T) 3yo and up f&m $125,000

Sunday, Aug. 2 $250,000 Tri-State Turf Sprint Listed 5 ½ F (T) 3yo and up $125,000

Sunday, Aug. 9 $400,000 Ellis Park Derby Listed 1 M 3yo $200,000

Sunday, Aug. 9 $250,000 Ellis Park Juvenile 7 F 2yo$125,000

Sunday, Aug. 9 $250,000 Ellis Park Debutante 7 F 2yo $125,000

Sunday, Aug. 9 $200,000 Groupie Doll Listed 1 M 3yo and up f&m $100,000

Sunday, Aug. 9 $200,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones 1 M 3yo and up $100,000

Sunday, Aug. 9 $200,000 Audubon Oaks 7 F 3yo f $100,000

Sunday, Aug. 23 $175,000 Ellis Park Turf 1 1/16 M (T) 3yo and up f&m $87,500