Javier Barajas, who has tended to racetracks and courses around the globe, is Ellis Park's new track superintendent. Glenn Thompson, a veteran of almost 70 years maintaining the track, helped Ellis Park become one of the safest racetracks in the country and will continue to work with Barajas.
“We now have two of the best and most-respected track superintendents in the world working at Ellis Park,” said Jeff Hall, Ellis Park's Director of Racing Operations. “While Javier and Glenn have very different backgrounds, they share fierce determination to do what is best for the horse as far as surfaces over which they race and train.”
Barajas has been in the business of racetrack maintenance for 43 years, including as Keeneland's track superintendent for five years before leaving in 2019 and building his consulting business. He was 13 years old and already a veteran hot walker when he got his first job on a track crew, working for his dad, Arlington Park's turf-course foreman. Barajas went on to work at Sam Houston Race Park, Fair Grounds, Canterbury Park, and Golden Gate Fields, as well as in Dubai, China, Chile and Peru.
A former track superintendent for the Dubai Racing Club's Meydan Racecourse, Barajas will work year-round for Ellis Park while also continuing his consulting business, including a project to build dirt tracks in Turkey. He comes aboard as Ellis Park embarks on construction to widen its mile turf course and install lights that will allow for races to be held into the evening.
“We have a big shortage of track superintendents,” Barajas said. “I've gotten seven or eight calls from different racetracks in a month saying they need somebody. I think with my career now I need to focus on the future. I'm really happy Glenn is staying on, because I get to learn from one of the best. You never stop learning. I've been in the business 43 years, but learning from somebody who has that feel, who has everything in his head–instead of having data, he has it in his brain–hopefully he'll share it with me and I'll still learn more to give it to somebody else.”
Thompson, 84, was honored by Ellis Park at the end of the 2019 race meet for his 69 years working at the track, the vast majority as track superintendent.
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