What’s Going On At Ellis Park This Weekend: Aug. 25-27

Gentlemen’s Day. Gentlemen can enjoy free cigars (courtesy Cigar Cigar) and Four Roses bourbon tasting and register to win prizes after each race (sign up in the north end of the grandstand tunnel, closest to the grassy picnic area). Sponsored by Four Roses bourbon. All afternoon before and during the races. Point person: Damon Bagwell at bagwellmacypr@gmail.com.

Live racing: First post 12:50 p.m. CT.

Meet the Announcer: One lucky fan (or small group) goes to the announcer’s booth to meet race caller Jimmy McNerney, who will discuss how he remembers all those names and race preparation, with the guests watching Jimmy put that into action during a race. Point person: Brianna Vitt at bvitt@ellisparkracing.com

Making of a Racehorse, 7:30 a.m. CT. The last of Ellis’ weekly free, family-friendly fan education event to give the public an up-close view of what goes on in the mornings to prepare horses for the afternoon races. The public can meet in the southern end of the parking lot by the starting gate. This week, we’ll leave by 8 a.m. to go the paddock – lots of parking right there — where John Hancock will discuss more about timing morning workouts and fans can practice with their smart phones stopwatches. We’ll also learn how a race card is put together, from the “condition book” to entries to the post-position draw and what what goes into determining the races that will be used. Pony rides for the kids on John’s pony in the paddock toward the end of the two-hour session. Point person: Jennie Rees at tracksidejennie@gmail.com.

Inside Track with Joey K and Jimmy Mac: Our weekly Saturday morning handicapping show where paddock analyst Joe Kristufek and announcer Jimmy McNerney analyze Saturday’s races. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Central in the second-floor Gardenia Room, with live streaming via Ellis Park’s Facebook page.

Live racing: First post 12:50 p.m. CT. Please note: This is the last Saturday of the meet for live racing. Ellis Park will not race live, though it will be open for simulcasting, on Sept. 2 to accommodate Kentucky Downs’ opening date.

Wiener Dog Derby: This is it! After four preliminary races, the eight qualifiers square off to determine who is the Top Dog at Ellis Park. This cute li’l critters are always a huge favorite with kids. Schedule post is after fifth race, about 2:50 p.m. Central. Will send out video of race, plus winner’s interview. Point person: Brianna Vitt at bvitt@ellisparkracing.com.

Junior Jockey: One lucky kid is selected to be the Junior Jockey, serving as the honorary paddock judge to call our “Rider’s up” before a race, watching the race on the rail from the winner’s circle and getting his or her photo taken with the winners. Sign up at the group sales table inside the clubhouse entrance. Point person: Brianna Vitt at bvitt@ellisparkracing.com.

SUNDAY

PDJF Day. Ellis Park collaborates with its riders to raise money for and awareness about the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund, which provides assistance to more than 60 jockeys who have been permanently disabled while riding racehorses. This will provide great visuals, with dunk tanks (jockeys between their scheduled mounts, paddock analyst Joe Kristufek has agreed to participate and maybe we’ll be able to get some trainers). Autograph sessions with jockeys all afternoon and fans can get signed jockey goggles with PDJF donation. Raffles for racing and jockey memorabilia. And more. Dunking booth, autograph sessions and raffles at table set up across from paddock by paddock pavilion. Will send out highlight video and a couple of jockey interview clips. Point persons: Jennie Rees at tracksidejennie@gmail.com and Brianna Vitt at bvitta@ellisparkracing.com

Kids on the track: After the last race goes off (around 5 p.m.) kids 12 and under square off in foot races (grouped by ages) on the track, with the winner’s getting pair of jockey goggles and all the fame they can stand.

Story angles to watch: With six days left of live racing, three-time Ellis riding champion (including last year) Corey Lanerie holds a 26-23 lead over 56-year-old Jon Court, the six-time leading rider at the track and only jockey to win the title five straight years.

Sue Martin: They call her the Galloping Grandma, but that doesn’t do Sue Martin justice. She’s a great-grandmother. On Groupie Doll Day Aug. 13, the mother of seven won her second race of the year. She goes for her third win on the year Saturday at Ellis. Her total of two wins is the most since she won four in 1990, after which she was off for 17 years. Sue also is a great interview. And she is tough. I believe she delivered five of her seven kids at home. She has 18 grandkids and four great-grandkids.

Trainer Jack Van Berg: The Hall of Fame trainer is solidly in third at the meet, with nine wins out of 26 starts, plus six seconds. Only Brad Cox (15 for 40) and Steve Asmussen (14 for 88) have more wins. Van Berg, 81, is enjoying a resurgence in a career that started when he was 8 years old working for his dad, Marion Van Berg, also in the Hall of Fame. He has passed $1 million in purse earnings for the first time since 2000. His 6,515 victories rank No. 4 all time. Best known for training 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and 1988 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Alysheba. Note: While Van Berg has horses running the next two days at Ellis, I’ll find out if he will be at the track if you’re interested, maybe encourage him to come over from Louisville, where he is based. His son, Tom, comes every day they race a horse.