It’s a rare day when the sight of about a dozen horses upstages Mount Rainier, but that’s what will happen today at Emerald Downs.
With its grandstand facing the mountain, the dirt track in Auburn will arrest every eye for 90 seconds about 6 p.m. at the 74th annual Longacres Mile. The race is the richest in the region, with a $300,000 purse, a kingly sum fit for the Sport of Kings.
Granted, betting on that sport can be intimidating for newcomers. Horse racing is filled with the type of insider jargon that’s more common to a debate on health care than an afternoon out. It can turn $2 decisions into stressful situations.
With that in mind, we decided to break things down before the Longacres Mile, going over some basic terms that visitors will hear at the track.
Racetrack lingo
Backstretch: The area of a track where horses are stabled and trained. At Emerald Downs, the backstretch is to the north of the track.
Finish line: Each race ends at the same point in front of the grandstand.
Furlong: 1/8 of a mile. Each furlong around the 1-mile track is marked by a green pole.
Grandstand: The seats and bleachers where spectators gather. The Emerald Downs grandstand faces east, toward Mount Rainier. You can purchase seats in the grandstand or wander around the track level.
Paddock: The area north of the grandstand where you can watch horses being prepared for each race.
Post time: The time a race is scheduled to be run.
Starting gate: The mechanical device that releases horses simultaneously. The movable gate is repositioned at different points on the track based on the distance of the race.
Tote board: In the track’s infield, it lists the odds and payouts when you win.
Winner’s circle: Where the winning horse, jockey, owners and friends gather after each race, next to the finish line.
Betting
Visitors can keep things simple by betting on a single horse, but exotic wagers are a common way to try for bigger winnings. Here are seven of the most common wagers:
Single horse
$2 minimum bets.
Win: If the horse runs first, you win.
Place: If the horse runs first or second, you win.
Show: If the horse finishes in the top three, you win.
Exotic wagers
$1 minimum bets.
Exacta: Pick the top two finishers, in order.
Trifecta: Pick the top three finishers, in order.
Superfecta: Pick the top four finishers, in order.
Pick-3: Pick the winners of three consecutive races.
Today’s races
2 p.m. to about 7 p.m. at Emerald Downs, 2300 Emerald Downs Drive, Auburn; $7 admission, reserved seating from $2.50 at the grandstand level to $60 for a six-person box seat; races run all day with the Longacres Mile about 6 p.m.; www.emerald downs.com or 253-288-7000.
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