Churchill Downs Inc. has selected a new location for its Ellis Park extension site in Daviess County, just weeks after it pulled out of plans to build at its originally selected site.
The Kentucky gambling giant has picked an area of undeveloped land east of Owensboro, and is currently in the permitting and site planning process, CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen said during CDI’s second quarter earnings call on Thursday. He also told investors he would be able to share more information during the third quarter earnings call.
“(We) believe this location will enable us to create a premier entertainment destination for all residents of the region,” Carstanjen said.
The Ellis Park extension site will be CDI’s seventh historical horse racing gambling facility in Kentucky, in addition to Churchill Downs. In total, that gives CDI eight of the 14 state venues eligible to host retail Kentucky sportsbooks.
Owensboro smoking ordinance may have factored in
In late May, CDI pulled the plug on plans to build the Ellis Park extension facility at the site of the former JCPenney’s location in Owensboro’s Towne Square Mall. Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson told local news outlet Tristate that the city’s decision not to amend its smoking ordinance for the extension site contributed to CDI’s decision to cancel plans.
Owensboro’s smoking ordinance is more restrictive, compared to the rest of Daviess County.
“It was difficult,” Watson told Tristate. “There was just a bunch of different circumstances that came together, as I explained, that wouldn’t allow it to happen.”
According to The Owensboro Times, the City of Owensboro declined to amend its smoking ban in March. The amendment would have allowed smoking in limited capacities at venues with certain requirements, such as a partition or wall between smoking and non-smoking areas, a ban on patrons younger than 18, and at least 50,000 square foot of space at the venue.
“Churchill explained that they believe the ability to smoke at the facility is integral to its success,” City Manager Nate Pagan said in March, according to The Owensboro Times. “In discussions about the issue, the Board of Commissioners seemed open to their request. As a result, staff began negotiating with Churchill Downs about potential changes to the smoking ordinance.”
CDI never commented specifically on whether Owensboro’s decision to not amend its smoking ban affected its decision to pull out of its plan to build the Ellis Park extension site at the Towne Square Mall.
Eastern Daviess County location: Thruston, Philpot or Knotsville?
A site just east of Owensboro could put the new Ellis Park facility in Thruston, Philpot or even Knotsville. CDI’s Q2 earnings report simply says the project will be in “Eastern Daviess County.”
The Ellis Park extension site will have HHR gaming machines, simulcast horse race betting and a sportsbook. However, despite CDI’s partnership with FanDuel Sportsbook in KY, the Ellis Park extension sportsbook won’t be attached to a commercial brand — because no CDI sportsbooks will be branded.
Ellis Park Racing & Gaming is a racetrack, simulcast center and racetrack in Henderson, just across the border from Indiana. It boasts 297 HHR machines and a 6,000-seat grandstand at the racetrack. It was the site of the final few weeks of Churchill Downs’ spring meet while the Louisville track implemented safety changes following 12 horse deaths in May.
