| Location | Auburn, Washington, United States |
|---|---|
| Date opened | June 20, 1996 |
| Course type | Thoroughbred flat racing |
| Notable races | Longacres Mile |
| Official website | |
Emerald Downs is a thoroughbred racetrack in Auburn, Washington, located a half mile east of Highway 167. It is named after Seattle, the Emerald City.
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Emerald Downs first opened its doors to race fans on June 20, 1996,[1] with the inaugural 100 day meet running through November 4. It replaced Longacres Racetrack, which closed in September 1992 after sixty seasons of racing. Following the closure of Longacres, racing was not held in Western Washington from 1993–1995. However, Thoroughbred racing continued at Yakima Meadows and Playfair race course in Spokane during this time. Emerald Downs is a Limited Partnership, with a group of investors led by Track President Ron Crockett. In 2002, the land where Emerald Downs is situated was purchased by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for roughly $70 Million.[2]
The Emerald Downs track is a one mile (1.6 km) oval in the shadow of Mount Rainier. The track surface itself is made of geo-textile fabric, washed rock, course sand, and one-component track material. However, there is no turf course. The tote board is located in the center of the oval track.
The Emerald Downs infield is designed as a storm system that is sized to accommodate all storm runoff for the entire southern portion of the track property, including all rooftop surfaces as well as parking lots and the racetrack surface. Before releasing any water, Emerald Downs tests for turbidity and PH levels. Samples are also sent to a laboratory for further testing of dissolved oxygen, ammonia and fecal coliform levels. Finally, the water is released into Mill Creek at an engineered rate of discharge in order to help prevent flooding downstream from the track. Much of the infield is under water during the fall and winter, creating a home for ducks, geese, rabbits, and other small wildlife.
The Emerald Downs Grandstand is a modern racetrack facility designed by EwingCole. There is general admission seating on track level, including a grassy park area with free children's activities on weekends (weather permitting). Outside on the third floor are box and reserved seats in the grandstand, as well as box and reserved seats on the fifth floor indoor clubhouse.
Pari-mutuel windows are located on each floor to place wagers. There are eight food stands and six beverage services throughout the facility. There is also the Rainer Restaurant on the fifth floor, with reservations generally accepted two weeks in advance.
The state-of-the-art facility and in-house catering at Emerald Downs lends itself to hosting a variety of events year-round. The Triple Crown Suites on the 6th floor and the large banquet space on the 4th floor are just a couple of venues available for group events.
Each of the 11 barns is a complete facility for horsemen with: 116 stalls; 22 tack and feed storage areas; six trainer offices; 12 hay and straw storage areas; 10 wash racks; 13 dorm rooms for grooms and six mechanical hot walkers. Each stall is 10 feet (3.0 m) by 12 feet (3.7 m) in size. For the horse’s protection, each stall is padded with plywood wainscot kick-boards.
The Morris J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion is the home for the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The $1 million facility opened to the public on December 14, 1997, for the 1997 Winter Sale. It was funded by significant donations from Micheal and Kenneth Alhadeff and other industry members. The entire structure – including the sales arena and 4,400 square feet (410 m2) of office space – is 17,300 square feet (1,610 m2).
Funded jointly by Northwest Racing Associates, track veterinarians, the families of Mike and Ken Alhadeff and private contributors, the Morris J. Alhadeff Equine Hospital is a state-of-the-art facility used by the Emerald Downs Veterinary Association. The vet clinic includes:
As part of the process in building the facility that exists today, Northwest Racing Associates, L.P. developed an extensive plan to mitigate the impact of a fill on low grade wetlands on the Emerald Downs property. Located a mile and one-half south of the track property, at a cost of $6.5 million, 56 acres (230,000 m2) of wetlands were created or enhanced. On the east side of SR-167, 100,000 cubic yards of soil were excavated, creating 6 acres (24,000 m2) of open water. Habitat features were added to benefit water fowl, birds of prey and mammals.
The track hosts Live Thoroughbred racing from mid April through the end of September. Races are run Friday through Sunday and holidays the majority of the season. During mid-summer, the track races on a Thursday through Sunday schedule. The track conducts several large ungraded stakes and many overnight handicaps and stakes. There are an average of 8 races on week nights, and 10 races per race weekend. In addition to live racing, the track offers simulcast wagering year round.
The first Quarter Horse race in track history was held in 2010. In 2011, Emerald Downs plans to feature Quarter Horse races more regularly as a supplement to the Thoroughbred program.
Gallyn Mitchell is the all-time leading rider at Emerald Downs through the 2011 racing season and the only jockey to have raced at every meet since Emerald Downs opened in 1996. Jennifer Whitaker is the all-time leading female rider. Ricky Frazier set records for wins in a season (157) and earnings ($1,632,102) in 2007. Frazier won the riding title again in 2009 with 155 victories and $1,492,455 in earnings. Vann Belvoir owns the best winning percentage in track history at 23.9%. The track record for wins in a single day is six, shared by Seth Martinez (July 27, 2008) and Kevin Radke (September 2, 2002). Cassie Papineau set a record for wins by an apprentice with 70 trips to the winner's circle in 2009.
Many famous jockeys have ridden at Emerald Downs, including several members of the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame. Laffit Pincay Jr., Pat Day, Eddie Delahoussaye, Russell Baze, Gary Stevens, Alex Solis, Garrett Gomez, David Flores, Robby Albarado and Gary Baze have all competed on the Emerald Downs oval.
| Rank | Jockey | Career Wins 1996–2011 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gallyn Mitchell | 1,322 |
| 2 | Ricky Frazier | 886 |
| 3 | Juan Gutierrez | 878 |
| 4 | Frank Gonsalves | 561 |
| 5 | Kevin Radke | 532 |
| 6 | Ben Russell | 501 |
| 7 | Pedro Alvarado | 400 |
| 8 | Nathan Chaves | 399 |
| 9 | Leslie Mawing | 398 |
| 10 | Jennifer Whitaker | 382 |
Tim McCanna is the all-time leading trainer at Emerald Downs through 2011 and has won 10 training titles since the inaugural season of 1996. McCanna won a track record 66 races in 2008. Washington Hall of Fame Trainer Jim Penney remains one of the most accomplished trainers in state history. His five career wins in the Longacres Mile (three at Emerald Downs) ranks best of all time. He is also the only trainer in Washington State history to win five races in a single day twice. Doris Harwood is the only other trainer to accomplish the feat a single time, collecting five wins on August 8, 2009. Penney's 33 career stakes wins rank third all-time and he also earned a training title at Emerald Downs in 1998 when he led all conditioners with 46 wins. Doris Harwood set a record for earnings in a single season with $931,916 in 2009. She also won 12 stakes in 2009, tying a track record she set in 2007.
| Rank | Trainer | Career Wins 1996–2011 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim McCanna | 808 |
| 2 | Frank Lucarelli | 676 |
| 3 | Howard Belvoir | 561 |
| 4 | Jim Penney | 538 |
| 5 | Doris Harwood | 421 |
| 6 | Bud Klokstad | 402 |
| 7 | Roy Lumm | 355 |
| 8 | Sharon Ross | 337 |
| 9 | Dan Markle | 294 |
| 10 | Terry Gillihan | 282 |
| Rank | Owner | Career Wins 1996–2011 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ron Crockett Inc. | 213 |
| 2 | Larry & Veralene Hillis | 147 |
| 3 | Tim & Sue Spooner | 139 |
| 4 | Dunn Bar Ranch | 122 |
| 5 | Billie Klokstad | 121 |
| 6 | Howard Belvoir | 111 |
| 7 | Seawind Stables LLC | 102 |
| 8 | Northwest Farms LLC | 92 |
| 9 | Rick Beal | 84 |
| 10 | Homestretch Farms Inc. | 82 |
Wasserman is the track's all-time leading earner, with $514,722 in purses won entering the 2011 racing season. West Seattle Boy is the winningest horse in track history with 21 career trips to the winner's circle, the most recent on September 25, 2011 as a 12 year old.[3] Noosa Beach leads in career stakes victories with 11. In 2005, Halonator set the track record for wins in a season with 8.[4]
| Rank | Horse | Career Wins 1996–2010 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Seattle Boy | 21 |
| 2 | Bob Stories | 16 |
| Market Master | 16 | |
| 4 | Fleet Pacific | 15 |
| 5 | Kimo's Friend | 14 |
| Toobusytocall | 14 | |
| 7 | Hit a Star | 13 |
| If Not Why Not | 13 | |
| Last Thoughts | 13 | |
| Skyrider | 13 | |
| Taz's Treasure | 13 |
| Year | Horse |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Noosa Beach |
| 2010 | Noosa Beach |
| 2009 | Assessment |
| 2008 | Wasserman |
| 2007 | The Great Face |
| 2006 | Flamethrowintexan |
| 2005 | No Giveaway |
| 2004 | Demon Warlock |
| 2003 | Youcan'ttakeme |
| 2002 | Flying Notes |
| 2001 | Makors Mark |
| 2000 | Edneator |
| 1999 | No Curfew |
| 1998 | Wild Wonder |
| 1997 | Kid Katabatic |
| 1996 | Name for Norm |
| Distance | Time | Horse | Age | Weight | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Yards | :15.66 | Moe Buzz (QH) | 4 | 125 | July 31, 2011 |
| 350 Yards | :17.30 | Snip N Dale (QH) | 5 | 126 | September 25, 2010 |
| 400 Yards | :20.69 | Clear Blue Sea (QH) | 4 | 125 | August 5, 2011 |
| 440 Yards | :21.82 | Devon Dat Cash (QH) | 6 | 124 | September 4, 2011 |
| 2 Furlongs | :21⅖ | Midnight Cruiser | 2 | 118 | May 4, 2000 |
| :21⅖ | Adventuresome Man | 2 | 118 | May 10, 2000 | |
| 870 Yards | :46.12 | Destinys Roar | 6 | 122 | May 13, 2011 |
| 4½ Furlongs | :50 | Sea Speaker | 2 | 119 | August 25, 2007 |
| 5 Furlongs | :55⅖ | Jazzy Mac | 5 | 98 | August 20, 2000 |
| :55⅖ | Victor Slew | 4 | 115 | August 24, 2003 | |
| :55⅖ | Starbird Road | 4 | 119 | October 1, 2006 | |
| 5½ Furlongs | 1:01⅕ (Tied World Record)[5] | Willie the Cat | 3 | 118 | April 16, 2004 |
| 1:01⅕ (Tied World Record)[6] | The Great Face | 5 | 120 | April 20, 2007 | |
| 6 Furlongs | 1:07 (State Record) | Atta Boy Roy | 4 | 123 | September 13, 2009 |
| 1:07 (State Record)[7] | Noosa Beach | 4 | 118 | May 16, 2010 | |
| 6½ Furlongs | 1:13 (World Record)[8] | Sabertooth | 7 | 118 | May 22, 2005 |
| One Mile | 1:33 (State Record) | Sky Jack | 7 | 123 | August 24, 2003 |
| 1 1/16 Mile | 1:39⅗ (State Record) | Kid Katabatic | 5 | 123 | July 26, 1998 |
| 1⅛ Mile | 1:45⅖ (State Record) | Flying Notes | 3 | 122 | September 2, 2002 |
| 1 3/16 Mile | 1:57⅖ | Andoras Attitude | 4 | 119 | August 25, 2005 |
| 1¼ Mile | 2:01 | Itstufftobegood | 4 | 124 | August 5, 2005 |
| 1½ | 2:29 | Military Deputy | 5 | 120 | August 26, 2007 |
| 1¾ Mile | 3:02 | Itstufftobegood | 4 | 128 | September 18, 2005 |
| 2 Miles | 3:32⅗ (State Record) | Horatio | 5 | 115 | September 20, 2004 |
Note: (QH) = Quarter Horse
Emerald Downs biggest race is the Longacres Mile Handicap, a Grade III event. The race was announced in June 1935 so Longacres founder Joe Gottstein could have a signature one mile (1.6 km) race. He felt the mile was an overlooked distance, neither a sprint nor an endurance run. In order to attract racers and attention, the purse was set at $10,000, instantly the largest staked one mile (1.6 km) race in the country (and it would remain so for more than 40 years).
As soon as the announcement was made, the first running of the race had 20 entrants; 16 actually started. The stakes attracted the owners of a New Orleans horse named Biff, grandson of legendary Man o' War, who had just won $5000 in Chicago. Biff had the attention of everyone for weeks before the event and no owners would run their horses in preliminary races with him. Biff was first out of the gate but was stalked by Coldwater, a 20-1 longshot that wasn't regarded well. Near the end of the mile Biff was showing clear strain and Coldwater overtook him to win.
In 2008, locally owned and bred Wasserman took the Longacres Mile closing fast to win in a photo finish over horses shipped in to run the race. The Longacres Mile is now a featured "Win and Your In" race into the Breeders' Cup, but the 2008 winner declined the invitation. The 2009 winner, Assessment, subsequently chipped a bone in his ankle during a workout and was ruled out of contention in the Dirt Mile.[9]
The 75th Longacres Mile was run on August 22, 2010. It was won by the betting favorite, Noosa Beach.[10] Ridden by Ricky Frazier and trained by Doris Harwood for owner Jeff Harwood, the winner paid $5.60, $3.80 and $3.00. Jersey Town finished second, followed by the 2009 Mile champion, Assessment.
The 2011 Longacres Mile featured a showdown between defending champion Noosa Beach and multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Awesome Gem. Awesome Gem took the lead near the wire, defeating Noosa Beach by 1 1/2 lengths.[11] It was his 9th win in 46 career starts, boosing his earnings to over $2.6 Million.
| Payoff | Horse | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $142.00 | My Lady Boots | July 27, 1997 |
| $139.60 | Clurmor | July 28, 2007 |
| $122.00 | No Giveaway | Aug. 21, 2005 |
| $120.80 | Unknown Doctor | June 12, 2008 |
| $109.00 | No Way To Go | Aug. 12, 1996 |
| Payoff | Horse | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $58.00 | Georgia Echo | Oct. 6, 1998 |
| $55.60 | Sugarslittleacorn | May 4, 2003 |
| $52.40 | Royal Alaskan | May 17, 1998 |
| $50.00 | Wrapped In Ribbon | July 7, 2007 |
| $46.80 | My Lady Boots | July 27, 1997 |
The massive payoffs for the top three horses listed were a result of a fourth-place finish by then-undefeated Knight Raider in the Diane Kem Stakes for two year old fillies on Washington Cup Day. $148,000 of the $156,000 pool was put on Knight Raider, providing huge payoffs for the top three finishers when she finished out of the money.[12]
| Payoff | Horse | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $187.00 | Have'n Wild Time | September 13, 2009 |
| $156.40 | Pistolpackin'gal | September 13, 2009 |
| $108.60 | Private Fortune | September 13, 2009 |
| $38.80 | Super Raptor | April 5, 1997 |
| $35.00 | Jazzie Act | July 14, 1996 |
| Payoff | Horses | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $1,907.40 | Neardistracted-Magical Monday | May 17, 2002 |
| $1,878.20 | Delirious Laughter-Bishop Wins | Aug. 8, 2003 |
| $1,464.80 | Follow My Heineken-Specious Edition | July 5, 1999 |
| $1,289.60 | Zairsaplan-Sea Tac Jet | May 9, 2004 |
| $1,102.80 | Cider Burg-Strategic Patience | July 4, 2010 |
| Payoff | Horses | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $2,317.80 | Salty Season-Another Bar Fly | Aug. 28, 1998 |
| $2,077.40 | No Way To Go-Almost Smashed | Aug. 12, 1996 |
| $1,843.60 | Naab The Win-Do As You’re Toad | Aug. 14, 1998 |
| $1,678.80 | Mighbabe-Scatty | Sept. 7, 1998 |
| $1,286.80 | Tip A Moon-Treasure Girl | Dec. 21, 1996 |
| Payoff | Horses | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $27,356.90 | Meridian Thriller-Foxy Love-Foxy Frosty | July 2, 2002 |
| $24,399.00 | Freefur-Mollie Stone-Jennifer Star | June 26, 2005 |
| $24,337.90 | Timbercamp-Kisses of Wine-Initial Reaction | May 7, 2006 |
| $23,782.80 | Salty Season-Another Bar Fly-Seattle Jack | Aug. 28, 1998 |
| $20,805.20 | Clurmor-Buckshot West-Cahill Blues | July 28, 2007 |
| Payoff | Horses | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $7,479.90 | Alena’s Tornado-Wa Dancer-Talking About | July 9, 2000 |
| $7,177.70 | Tommy Ray-Braydon’s Choice-Wacky Joe Wacky | July 25, 1998 |
| $6,987.60 | Chisos Free Candy-Sea Pirate-Dee Cee Nine | April 11, 1997 |
| $6,649.50 | Alibhai Basket-Lucky Pusher-Travel The Sun | Aug. 8, 1998 |
| $6,274.60 | Volare Princess-Secret Game-Wrapped In Ribbons | July 7, 2007 |
| Payoff | Date |
|---|---|
| $18,223.20 | April 17, 2009 |
| $13,373.30 | Aug. 2, 2007 |
| $12,829.25 ($0.50 Pick Four) | May 30, 2011 |
| $12,593.30 | June 26, 2005 |
| $12,096.40 | May 26, 2008 |
Note: The Pick Four was changed to a $0.50 minimum wager in 2010.
| Payoff | Date |
|---|---|
| $217,140.00 | June 8, 1997 |
| $96,172.00 | Aug. 5, 1996 |
| $80,489.40 | Sept. 1, 1996 |
| $64,700.80 | Sept. 14, 1996 |
| $48,507.80 | Nov. 6, 1996 |
| Payoff | Date |
|---|---|
| $15,487.20 | June 2, 2002 |
| $15,319.60 | Sept. 21, 2003 |
| $14,926.70 | Aug. 21, 2005 |
| $14,423.10 | July 25, 1999 |
| $13,858.40 | July 20, 2008 |