Ronald W. Ellis
Encyclopedia
Ronald W. Ellis is an American Thoroughbred horse racing
trainer
. A November 8, 1997 Los Angeles Times
article noted that he "is known for taking his time with horses and taking special care with those prone to injury."
Ron Ellis only saw his first live Thoroughbred horse race
at age sixteen but was immediately "hooked" on the sport. Four years later he was training horses and earned his first win with To B. Or Not who won the 1980 Carlsbad Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack
and then captured that year's Palos Verdes Handicap
plus back-to-back wins in the 1981-1982 El Conejo Handicap
. A difficult horse to handle, To B. Or Not set two track records in three years of racing for Ellis who went on to train for prominent owners such as Pam and Martin Wygod
, B. Wayne Hughes, and the Mace Siegel family's Jay Em Ess Stable.
In 2004, Ellis trained Declan's Moon
to an undefeated season and American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors. In 2009, he won the most important race of his career when Rail Trip captured the Grade I
Hollywood Gold Cup
.
Ron Ellis serves on the Board of Directors
of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). He and wife Amy, with whom he has three daughters, make their home in Arcadia, California
near Santa Anita Park
. Amy McGee Ellis is the sister of trainer Paul McGee.
He was once an analyst for Fox Sports
from 1998-2001. He has been with TVG Network
since 2006.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. A November 8, 1997 Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
article noted that he "is known for taking his time with horses and taking special care with those prone to injury."
Ron Ellis only saw his first live Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
at age sixteen but was immediately "hooked" on the sport. Four years later he was training horses and earned his first win with To B. Or Not who won the 1980 Carlsbad Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
and then captured that year's Palos Verdes Handicap
Palos Verdes Handicap
The Palos Verdes Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event, it is open to horses age four and up, willing to race six furlongs on dirt. It carries a purse of $150,000.In 1971, the Palos Verdes...
plus back-to-back wins in the 1981-1982 El Conejo Handicap
El Conejo Handicap
The El Conejo Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually on January 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III sprint race open to horses age four and older, it is contested on Pro-Ride synthetic dirt over a distance of five and a half furlongs.In 2000, the El...
. A difficult horse to handle, To B. Or Not set two track records in three years of racing for Ellis who went on to train for prominent owners such as Pam and Martin Wygod
Martin J. Wygod
Martin J. Wygod is an American businessman and a prominent Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. A business administration graduate from New York University, he joined a Wall Street stock brokerage firm before becoming a managing partner in a similar firm.In 1964, Wygod became involved with...
, B. Wayne Hughes, and the Mace Siegel family's Jay Em Ess Stable.
In 2004, Ellis trained Declan's Moon
Declan's Moon
Declan's Moon is a retired American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Brice Ridgely. Jay Em Ess Stable purchased Declan's Moon for $125,000 at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic September yearling sale....
to an undefeated season and American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors. In 2009, he won the most important race of his career when Rail Trip captured the Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
.
Ron Ellis serves on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). He and wife Amy, with whom he has three daughters, make their home in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
near Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
. Amy McGee Ellis is the sister of trainer Paul McGee.
He was once an analyst for Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
from 1998-2001. He has been with TVG Network
TVG Network
TVG Network is an American specialty channel dedicated to horse racing. The company broadcasts from Los Angeles, California and is available in the United States on Dish Network and DirecTV as well as select cable companies...
since 2006.