(Doncho sets world record for 5.5 furlongs on the turf at Ellis Park on Friday / Photo by Coady Media)

From the Ellis Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

DONCHO SETS WORLD RECORD FOR 5 ½ FURLONGS ON TURF AT ELLIS PARK

 

HENDERSON, Ky. (Friday, Aug. 8, 2025) – History was made Friday at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming when JAL Racing’s Doncho set a world record for 5 ½ furlongs on turf in :59.75, eclipsing the mark of :59.80 set by Cogburnin 2024 at Saratoga.

Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and trained by Michelle Lovell, Doncho went gate-to-wire in Race 7 to score an 11-1 upset in the allowance event.

“I’m so proud of this horse,” Lovell said. “He deserves the credit. He ran huge today and I’m so thankful he was able to get to the winner’s circle again. Breaking a record by doing so was icing on the cake.”

The 4-year-old gelded son of Mo Town now improved his record to four wins from eight starts.

The previous Ellis Park track record for 5 ½ furlongs on turf was 1:00.26, set by Totally Boss in 2019 during the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint.

Live racing resumes Saturday through Monday at Ellis Park with daily first posts at 11:50 a.m. CT.

Sunday is Ellis Park Derby Day, featuring six stakes races led by the $300,000 Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed) and the $200,000 Groupie Doll (Listed).

The day also serves as Kentucky HBPA College Day, with scholarship prizes awarded throughout the 10-race card.

For more information about racing and gaming at Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkowensborogaming.com.

 

ABOUT ELLIS PARK RACING & GAMING

Ellis Park Racing and Gaming (“Ellis Park”) located north of the Ohio River and just south of Evansville, Indiana, has been the home of summer Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky for more than 100 years. Ellis Park also features a gaming entertainment venue with approximately 300 historical racing machines. www.ellisparkowensborogaming.com