Dan Bork

Baley Hare has been named racing secretary at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming. He succeeds Dan Bork, who will transition to the same role at Colonial Downs in Virginia. Hare, a native of Illinois, grew up in the industry alongside his father, Scott, a former jockey and longtime jockey agent, and his mother, Darcy, a former trainer. Before working in racing offices across Kentucky, Hare was a racing official in Louisiana and Texas. "I'm thankful for the opportunity and appreciate the confidence from our team in naming me to this...

Early nominations for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to become eligible for the 2025 Triple Crown close Monday, Jan. 27 with a $600 payment, a press release from Churchill Downs said on Thursday. Nominations and payments to the 2025 Triple Crown series can be made through the portal by clicking here. Horses can also be nominated during the late phase with a $6,000 payment due Monday, Apr. 7. The final opportunity for eligibility is through a supplemental nomination fee due at entry time for each Triple Crown race: GI Kentucky Derby ($200,000), GI...

Former Ellis Park track superintendent Glenn Thompson passed away Saturday. He was 88. Thompson began his career at Ellis Park at age 16, working on the maintenance crew before eventually becoming track superintendent. Known for his unwavering commitment to track safety, Thompson often started his workday as early as 2 a.m. to prepare the surface for morning training. "I've always loved the sport, the horses and the people," Thompson said in a 2019 interview. "Every day, I did my best for the horses. It was never just a job--it was...

An open letter to Ben Huffman, Chris Polzin, Dan Bork, and Tyler Picklesimer, racing secretaries at CD & KEE, IND, ELP and KD, respectively-- The Thoroughbred racing industry continues to demonstrate its willingness to embrace technology, innovation and transparency for the long-term good of the sport. Our recent flagship events and race meets have been a credit to the sport-- a phenomenal product showcasing the equine and human stars and stories, and generating record handle. There is national TV exposure that we could have once only dreamed of. History will...

Officials at Ellis Park have announced the creation of the Tri-State S., an overnight stakes worth $60,000 for males 3-year-olds and upward at the distance of one mile over the main track. The race will be carded Aug. 7 and will share the program with a trip of turf stakes as part of the Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend at the Henderson, Kentucky, track. "This fills a void for older males going long on dirt," racing secretary Dan Bork said. "We have the Good Lord for sprinters, and the mile distance...

Average daily purses are expected to top $350,000 at this summer's Ellis Park meeting, highest in the track's 99-year history, according to racing secretary Dan Bork. Bork said purses for maiden races will likely top the record $50,000 achieved in 2019 before the pandemic forced cutbacks last year in the wake of a three-month shutdown. Those numbers include Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements. Ellis Park released its 2021 stakes schedule Sunday. The schedule features 14 stakes races and the Henderson track has expanded its Kentucky Downs Preview Day to an...