ABOUT US

HorseTourneys.com is an affiliate of Ellis Park Race Course, located in Henderson, Kentucky. The Ellis Park website is available at www.ellisparkracing.com.

Nicknamed the "Player-Focused Racetrack," Ellis Park is committed to initiatives to better serve the horseplayer community. Ron Geary, the owner of Ellis Park and an avid horseplayer and handicapping contest participant himself, was the runner-up in the 2011 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, only relinquishing the lead in the final contest race.

HorseTourneys.com is directed and operated by the following individuals:
RON GEARY - Owner and Administrator
MCKAY SMITH - Operator and Tournament Director

RON GEARY - Owner and Administrator

Ronald G. Geary is President and Owner of Ellis Park Race Track. Prior to the purchase of Ellis Park, Mr. Geary signed a management agreement with Churchill Downs to manage operations at the track from July 18, 2006 until the sale was completed on September 28, 2006. Terms of the transaction included an agreement allowing Mr. Geary to apply for additional race dates in 2007. On September 25, 2006, the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority approved 46 live race dates for Ellis Park's 2007 racing season, from July 4 through September 3, compared to just 36 days in 2006. In addition, Claiming Crown officials announced in September that Ellis Park would serve as host to Kentucky's first Claiming Crown in 2007. Under Mr. Geary's management, Ellis Park experienced increased attendance at the 2006 meet (up 18 percent over the previous year) and average on-track handle (increased 5.2 percent).

Mr. Geary's love for Thoroughbred Horses began in his college years at the University of Kentucky when he would spend time at Keeneland.

Mr. Geary retired on June 22, 2006, after 16 years as President and CEO of ResCare, a human service company that provides residential, therapeutic, job training and educational support to people with developmental or other disabilities; to youth with special needs; and to adults who are experiencing barriers to employment. The company employs approximately 40,000 people. Mr. Geary continued with ResCare as their non-executive Chairman of the Board until December 31, 2010.

Mr. Geary joined ResCare in 1989 and was instrumental in taking the company public in 1992. Under Mr. Geary's leadership, ResCare has grown from serving 1,378 persons in six states and Puerto Rico to offering supports to hundreds of thousands in 36 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Canada. ResCare has been named four times as one of Forbes Magazine's 200 Best Small Companies in America.

Mr. Geary also serves on the following boards: Ventas (NYSE); First Capital Bank of Kentucky; Appriss, Inc.; Pet Suites, Inc.; Evansville Icemen; and Louisville Executive Aviation.

Prior to joining ResCare, Mr. Geary served as President and Consultant to Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary from 1986-1989. He was also involved in government service, holding the positions of Kentucky Secretary of the Revenue Cabinet and member of the executive cabinet in Governor John Y. Brown's administration. Mr. Geary served as Kentucky's Assistant Secretary of State from 1989-1990 and Secretary of the Cabinet of Jefferson County from 1984-1985.

Before entering government work, Mr. Geary was a partner in the law firm of Barnett and Alagia from 1984-1989. Prior to that time, he founded and served as managing director of the accounting firm of Geary, Balbach and Hardt from 1973-1981.
For several years Mr. Geary was an appointed member of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, serving as chairman and member of the investment committee.

Mr. Geary earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky in 1969 and a J.D. degree from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1974. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by the Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary in 1989. Mr. Geary and his wife, Linda, reside in Louisville. They have two children, Wendy and Mark, and six grandchildren.

MCKAY SMITH - Operator and Tournament Director

When it comes to the sheer number of contests and hours spent directing handcapping tournaments, it's a pretty safe bet that few people, if any, have more experience in contest operation and directing than McKay Smith. Regular online contest players will recognize Smith as the longtime tournament director of NHCQualify.com, from its inception in 2006 to July, 2011. During that time, Smith directed over 100 online contests combined at NHCQualify.com and its later sister site, BCQualify.com.

After a start in big advertising at Leo Burnett USA in Chicago, Smith began his work in horse racing with Breeders' Cup Ltd. in 1999, which later merged with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). He held a number of roles for both organizations from then until 2006, including Breeders' Cup Marketing Manager, Director of New Media and Director of Product Development. During his last two years with the NTRA/Breeders' Cup, Smith oversaw day-to-day administration of the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. It was during this time that the plan for NHCQualify.com was put into action, with the site launching in March of 2006.

In addition to his work on NHCQualify.com, Smith founded Beulah Park's first handicapping contest in December, 2006 while employed as the Senior Director of Marketing for AmericaTab, the account wagering company that was later acquired by Churchill Downs. Smith still serves as the tournament director for Beulah's annual contest, which has become recognized by avid tournament players as a must-stop on the NHC Tour.

Beginning in 2009, while working in Ottawa, Canada, as the Vice President of Marketing for Magmic Games, a prominent mobile games publisher, Smith began development of HorseTourneys.com in an effort to help expand online handicapping tournaments both in the U.S. and abroad. Smith is committed to delivering the highest levels of contest integrity, customer support and player satisfaction.

Smith is a graduate of Indiana University and lives in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, with his wife, Indira.