<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex5_1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 5.1
<TEXT>

EXHIBIT 5.1

                                   May 7, 2007

Escalade, Incorporated
817 Maxwell Avenue
Evansville, Indiana 47711

        Re:     Sale  of   1,544,586   Shares  of  Common   Stock  of  Escalade,
                Incorporated  Pursuant to the  Company's  Form S-8  Registration
                Statement  Filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on
                the date hereof  relating  to the  Escalade,  Incorporated  2007
                Incentive Plan

Dear Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to Escalade,  Incorporated (the "Company"),  an
Indiana corporation,  in connection with the registration of 1,544,586 shares of
Common  Stock of the  Company  which may be issued and sold under the  Company's
2007 Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), as set forth in the S-8 Registration Statement
filed by the Company with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  on the date
hereof.

        As  counsel  for the  Company,  we have  made  such  legal  and  factual
examinations  and inquiries as we deemed  advisable for the purpose of rendering
this  opinion.  In addition,  we have examined  such  documents  and  materials,
including the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation,  Bylaws,  forms and other
materials  relating to the Grant and other corporate records of the Company,  as
we have deemed necessary for the purpose of this opinion.

        On the basis of the  foregoing,  we are of the  opinion  that,  upon the
issuance of common stock  pursuant to the Plan,  the 1,544,586  shares of Common
Stock being  registered  pursuant to the  Registration  Statement  are currently
validly authorized and, when issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration
Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common
Stock of the Company.

        We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion as part of the above
referenced Registration Statement and amendments thereto.


                                            Sincerely yours,

                                            GRAYDON HEAD & RITCHEY LLP

                                            By:  /s/ Richard G. Schmalzl
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Richard G. Schmalzl, Esq.,
                                                 Partner

                                       10
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