AUBURN — California horse racing’s pain is Emerald Downs’ gain as the Auburn oval opens its 30th season of racing this Sunday.

After the closure of Golden Gate Fields, trainers are sending hundreds more horses north to compete this spring and summer. As of the start of training, stall applications numbered over 1,100, an increase of more than 300 from the same time last year. The higher headcount in the stables should translate to bigger fields and more appealing cards this season for Northwest racing fans.

The season begins with a modest seven-race card highlighted by a claiming race for fillies and mares running for a $16,000 purse. After this weekend’s lone racing day, the track will offer another single day of racing to coincide with the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3. Then it will begin its regular schedule of weekend racing throughout the summer. Friday evening cards begin after Memorial Day, adding up to 51 racing days through Sept. 7. Weekend first-race post times are 1:30 p.m. and Friday evening cards begin at 7 p.m.

With more horses on the track, there could be tougher races in the jockey and trainer standings this season. Alex Cruz, the leading rider for the past five years, could face challenges from former Golden Gate regulars such as Francisco Duran and Silvio Amador. Another possible contender is Manuel Americano, who led the riding standings at Turf Paradise in Phoenix over the winter following 16 victories as an apprentice jockey last season in Auburn.

Justin Evans, who was both the leading trainer and leading owner at the track the past two years, is returning with a large stable of horses. He will be favored again in the trainers’ race, but could be challenged by Blaine Wright, who will bring a full stable to Emerald Downs this season after taking many of his top runners to California in recent years.

The Longacres Mile will have a new champion following the retirement of back-to-back winner Five Star General, who has been sent to stud. Slew’s Tiz Whiz, the 2022 and 2023 Horse of the Meeting, will work toward another appearance in the Mile after winning it in 2022 and finishing third the past two years.

The $125,000 Mile is one of 22 stakes races on the schedule, worth a total of more than $1 million. The Mile will anchor Championship Sunday, which will feature six stakes races on Aug. 17.

Emerald Downs typically draws larger crowds than most racetracks, thanks in part to popular promotions. This season’s slate includes the annual fireworks show on July 3, corgi races on July 12-13, and wiener dog races on Aug. 24. The T-Rex World Championship, which features people in inflatable Tyrannosaurus rex costumes racing through the homestretch, is scheduled for June 29.