Ercel Ellis Jr., a trainer, writer, clocker, and longtime horse racing radio broadcaster, died May 7 in Lexington. He was 94.
Raised in Central Kentucky, Ellis grew up around Thoroughbred racing, with his father, Ercel Ellis Sr., managing famed Dixiana Farm from 1929-64. As a young man, he heard tales of the legendary Man o’ War and other famous horses of the time. Those stories became the foundation for a career spent preserving and celebrating the sport’s history.
After serving in the United States Navy during the Korean War, Ellis briefly worked on the racetrack with trainer Jack Hodgins at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans before shifting careers. He dove into journalism and broadcasting, beginning a career that spanned more than six decades…