AUBURN — The gates fly open at Emerald Downs on Saturday for the first of 70 racing days through spring and summer.
The track said last week that close to 900 horses are already on the grounds in Auburn, about 20 percent more than were there at this time last year. That’s a promising sign for racing fans that field sizes will again be healthy after some improvement last year. Sixty-eight horses have been entered in the nine races on opening day.
Stryker Phd is being pointed toward what would be an unprecedented third straight victory in the $200,000 Longacres Mile, the Northwest’s richest race, on Aug. 14. The Mile has been run 80 times at Longacres racetrack, Yakima Meadows and, since 1996, at Emerald Downs. The now 7-year-old Stryker Phd, who has been named Washington’s Horse of the Year the past two years, is one of only four horses to win the Mile twice.
Among the other highlights of the upcoming meet: Kentucky Derby day is May 7, and fans will be able to watch the Triple Crown races on giant video screen installed on the track’s infield last summer. The popular annual fireworks show will take place July 3. Washington Cup day on Aug. 28 will feature six stakes races for state-bred horses. Closing day is Sept. 11.
Racing will take place on Saturdays and Sundays for the first two weekends of the meet, with Friday night racing added April 22. The track will have a special nighttime racing card on Monday, June 20, which will be the 20th anniversary of its opening. In July, the track will run at night on Saturdays for the first time. Nighttime cards begin at 6:30 p.m. and daytime ones at 2 p.m.
Bettors will have new wagering options this year and lower minimum bets on some existing ones. A new 20-cent pick-7 will be added for those hoping to win big by picking the last seven winners on the card. The minimum bet for daily doubles has been lowered to $1, and trifectas and pick-3s are now 50-cent minimums.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
