Glenn Thompson

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...

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...