Emerald Downs

Once Part Of A Racing Archipelago, Emerald Downs Survives As Lone Island

AUBURN, Wash.--The headline in the local edition of The Seattle Times on Wednesday, June 19, 1996 was full of elan as it fired off a bold prediction the day before the opening, "Racetrack Will Help Put Auburn On The Map." The building of Emerald Downs, which replaced the venerable and beloved oval at Longacres, was set to anchor development in the region and usher in a new era for the city which the paper said would attract "gamblers, shoppers and spectators." Some folks quoted were optimistic about the wiping away...

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Trainer Mark Glatt Headed to Washington Racing Hall of Fame

California-based trainer Mark Glatt is among the Washington Racing Hall of Fame inductees for 2025, according to a release from Emerald Downs Friday. Glatt, son of Washington trainer Ron Glatt, grew up not far from Emerald Downs and has found particular success at Santa Anita, where he is currently leading the trainer standings. Grade I winners conditioned by Glatt have included Dr. Schivel (Violence) and Collusion Illusion (Twirling Candy). Other members of the 2025 class of Washington's Hall of Fame include breeders Ron and Nina Hagen, whose El Dorado Farms...

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Lonesome Boy Named 2024 Washington Horse of the Year

Stakes winner Lonesome Boy (Nationhood) was named Washington's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old at a ceremony held Saturday at Emerald Downs Racetrack. Owned by John Parker and campaigned on the East Coast, the bay colt won the City of Brotherly Love Stakes at Parx last March. Parker repeated as the state's leading owner for the second year in a row. Top 2-year-old honors were shared by Blue Ribbon Racing #23's unbeaten three-time stakes-winning filly Precise Timing (Dialed In) and Dr. Jack and Margaret "Cookie" Root's homebred Big Bowie...

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Tennessee Moon, Who Led Country in Wins in 2024, Faces Tough Test Friday at Delta Downs

Tennessee Moon (Ransom the Moon) is not the type of horse to make headlines, but maybe that's because we've forgotten how special and admirable some of these blue-collar horses can be. The 5-year-old owned and trained by 56-year-old Mark Hibdon won 13 times from 18 starts in 2024, winning more races than any other horse in training. It's not just that she was winning, it was where she was winning. She ran in Louisiana (Delta Downs), Nebraska (Fonner Park), Wyoming (Energy Downs 307 Racing), Texas (Lone Star Park), Colorado (Arapahoe...

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Five Star General to Stand at Virginia's Owl Hollow Farm

Graded stakes winner Five Star General (Distorted Humor--Party of Interest, by Bernardini) will begin his stud career next season at Covilar's Owl Hollow Farm in Floyd, Virginia. Covilar, founded by Dr. Josep Bassaganya-Riera, acquired a 50% ownership share in the 8-year-old stallion through a strategic partnership with existing owner Kenny Alhadeff. Since acquiring Owl Hollow Farm in 2021, Covilar has worked to transform the property into a modern, world-class breeding facility. Five Star General's pedigree, performance and versatility aligns with Bassaganya-Riera's long-term vision for the farm, according to a release...

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Emerald Downs Releases 2025 Racing Dates

For the 30th racing season, Emerald Downs will have 51 days of live racing beginning Apr. 27 and ending Sept. 7, the track announced Friday evening. The meeting will run through 13 Fridays, 18 Saturdays, and 18 Sundays as well as special racing days on Memorial Day May 26 and the annual Fireworks Spectacular July 3. There will be a mid-season break spanning July 4 to July 10, and the stakes schedule will be crowned by the 90th renewal of the Longacres Mile. "We are looking forward to the 30th...

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Weekly Rulings: July 18-24

Every week, the TDN posts a round-up of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Charles Essex has been suspended for 15 days and fined $1,000 after his trainee, The Golden Egg, tested positive for acepromazine after finishing second at Emerald Downs May 31. A ubiquitous sedative across the nation's backstretches, acepromazine is a Class B controlled medication under HISA, a maximum first-time violation for which is what the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Unit (HIWU) meted out to...

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Penny Breakage, 'Dynamic Morning Line' Added to Emerald Downs Lineup

Emerald Downs will offer Penny Breakage on all wagers Emerald Downs commencing with its 55-day 2024 season that begins on Saturday, May 4. Historically, wagers were rounded down payouts to the nickel or dime which made sense when most wagers were made with cash on track. However, the change was made because of the evolution of account wagering and vouchers on track. Emerald Downs estimates that penny breakage will return approximately $400,000 in additional payouts to bettors. Also starting in 2024, Emerald Downs will offer a "Dynamic Morning Line." The...

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Frazier, White and Flag de Lune Join Washington Racing Hall of Fame

Jockey Basil Frazier, Grade I-winning mare Flag de Lune (Flag Officer), and racing writer/broadcaster Jon White will be inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame this summer, Emerald Downs announced Wednesday. Washington's Horse of the Year in 1984, Flag de Lune was a multiple stakes winner on dirt, including the inaugural running of the Longacres Lassies S., and became a Grade I winner on turf when she won the the 1984 Ramona H. at Del Mar. A native of Spokane, Washington, Frazier rode in Canada and the United States,...

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Slew's Tiz Whiz Earns Second Washington Horse of the Year Title

Slew's Crew Racing's multiple stakes winner Slew's Tiz Whiz (Slew's Tiznow) was named Washington's top racehorse for the second year in a row at the 2023 Washington Thoroughbred annual awards dinner held Feb. 24 at Emerald Downs. The 6-year-old gelding, bred by the late Karl Krieg, also earned the titles of champion sprinter and handicap horse. He is trained by Tom Wenzel. Earning her third state title was Petra Lewin (Rainbow Meadows Farm) and trainer Charles Essex's homebred star Blazingbellablu (Grazen). Crowned Washington Horse of Year as a 3-year-old in...

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Emerald Downs Releases 2024 Stakes Schedule

The 89th edition of the Longacres Mile headlines a 21-race stakes schedule worth $1,150,000 for Emerald Downs at the 55-day meeting from May 4 to Sept. 15. The $150,000 Longacres Mile anchors a stakes quadruple-header Sunday, Aug. 11. Billed as Championship Sunday, it co-features the $50,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby for 3-year-olds, and $50,000 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. A total of 16 stakes are scheduled on Sundays with five set for Saturdays, including the $50,000 Seattle S. for 3-year-old fillies that kicks off...

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Bill Downes Named Golden Gate Track Announcer

Bill Downes has been named track announcer for the upcoming winter/spring meet at Golden Gate Fields. Downes, who has called the races at Emerald Downs for the Washington track's last two seasons, has over two decades of experience in the announcer's booth. "We look forward to having Bill call our races," said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. "He has called all over the country and provides viewers and listeners with an accurate description of a race." Along with his stint at Emerald, Downes has also...

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