A Man with an Ellis Plan

Now were learning more about how a seemingly hopeless situation at Ellis Park got turned around. It all came together Saturday as a new vision for a deal between horsemen and the track came into focus. It came to Bob Jackson like a horse blasting past the finish line. "It just gave us something I got to thinking about. Ok, at six percent, whats that going to cost us?," Jackson said. It came down to lose a little or lose a lot. "What it would cost us was less than it would be if we closed down." And, when it came to his boss - "He liked the idea," Jackson said. "And, he said get a proposal worked up and well see." Finally, it came time to sell it to the horsemen. "They went back and discussed it, contacted the board members and accepted our proposal. And, thats what got us back to racing." Thanks to Mr. Jackson. "I came up with some of the original ideas." He maintained a positive attitude the whole time. "Ive been through previous horsemen strikes," Jackson said. "And, I always look on the brightside, I guess. I always think that something is going to get resolved." Jackson made sure that tables, tents, lots of things stayed up and operational, so if the track did re-open, they could get back to racing as soon as possible. "The facility was in good shape. Since last Wednesday, its not changed. All weve got to do is go through and clean it out and wash it out." Jackson adds they also have to get the seasonal employees in too, which for an ironic reason, shouldnt be too difficult. "We actually had meetings scheduled tomorrow to go over unemployment benefits for them," Jackson said. Now, instead, theyre employed and the season blasts on. Jackson says no matter what happens it will be tough to add 50 races that can make back the money lost this weekend. He says July 4th is the tracks second biggest weekend... just after Labor Day weekend.