Emerald Downs

Emerald Downs will offer 52 days of live racing in 2023, beginning May 6 and continuing through Sept. 17. The 2023 season features 20 Saturdays, 19 Sundays, 11 Fridays, and two Mondays. The meet's stakes schedule, which will be released in full in December, is highlighted by the 88th running of the Longacres Mile. Live racing dates were approved at last week's monthly meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission.

courtesy Emerald Downs Vic Cozzetti, a staple in Washington racing for over five decades, passed away Sunday in a Puyallup assisted living facility at age 93. Cozzetti was a fixture in the press box at Longacres and Emerald Downs--where he was known as "Victor the Predictor"--and involved in every form of racing media--television, radio, newspaper, Internet. His nightly recap on local radio was especially popular with handicappers and horsemen alike, delivering results and racing news in the pre-Internet era of the 1970s and 80s. Cozzetti was more than just a...

Total wagering handle and purse money paid out showed increases as Emerald Downs wrapped up its 27th season of live racing Sunday. The total season handle of $67,686,501 is an increase of 4% from 2021, while the average daily handle of $1,301,663 is down 2% from the previous year but still up some 15% from pre-Covid in 2019. On-track wagering showed a major boost in 2022--32% increase--as Emerald Downs returned to its traditional racing schedule of Friday evenings and Saturday-Sunday afternoons. Purses increased substantially in 2022 with $7,133,089 paid to...

The 55th WTBOA Summer Sale will take place Tuesday, Aug. 23, starting at 1:00 p.m., one hour earlier than in recent years. This year's offering, which will again be held at the WTBOA Sales Pavilion located at Emerald Downs, in Auburn, Washington, has 85 yearlings, 18 broodmares--including a three-in-one package--and one weanling cataloged. Auction activity begins with a chance to bid on a trip for two to the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be run Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland. Trip includes prime seating, hotel accommodations and an air...

The Race Track Chaplaincy of America is now accepting nominations for the 2022 RTCA White Horse Award which will be presented to an individual or individuals of any age who performed a heroic act on behalf of human or horse within the past 12 months. Last year's winner was Marshal Allen from Emerald Downs. The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, Aug. 24. The form can be found here on the official Race Track Chaplaincy website.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Race Track Chaplaincy of America's White Horse Award, which honors individuals who have done something heroic on behalf of human or horse in the past year. This year's White Horse Award winner will be honored by a special video presentation at the Race Track Chaplaincy's Nov. 2 event in the Silks Lawn Chalet at Keeneland. To submit a nomination for the White Horse Award, visit http://www.rtcanational.org/events for a complete list of rules and selection criteria, as well as nomination forms. The deadline for...

Blazingbellablu (Grazen) became the sixth 3-year-old distaffer to be named Washington Horse of the Year when she was recognized during the Washington Thoroughbred Champions Annual Awards and dinner held at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn Saturday. A homebred for Petra Lewin's Rainbow Meadows Farm and trainer Charlie Essex, the filly won the Kent S. at Emerald Downs last July. Also honored during Saturday's ceremony: 3yo champion Coastal Kid (Coast Guard); 2yo champion Cobra Jet (Curlin to Mischief); 2yo filly champion Koron (Nationhood); champion older horse and champion sprinter Papa's Golden...

Washington's Emerald Downs will increase purses by an additional 10% for the upcoming 2022 meeting. The overnight purse increase is the second 10% boost for the meet, making the total increase a robust 20% from last season, and comes on the heels of several incentive programs. It is also the track's third 10% increase since 2019. "The more people that get tickets, buy food and beverage, and wager on the live races allows us to offer higher purse supplements," said track president Phil Ziegler. "We are excited to welcome back...

Bill Downes has been named track announcer at Emerald Downs for the Washington track's 2022 season which opens May 15. He replaces Tom Harris who recently stepped down. Downes served as Indiana Grand track announcer from 2013 to 2021, and before that called races at Ellis Park, Beulah Park, Presque Isle Downs, and River Downs. He also was back-up announcer at Churchill Downs. "I'm thrilled to come to Emerald Downs," Downes said. "Emerald is a track I've always held in high esteem. I was there once for a two-day handicapping...

Marshall Allen has been named the winner of this year's Race Track Chaplaincy of America White Horse Award. Allen, an assistant trainer at Emerald Downs, saved the life of long-time horse owner Jim Foulkes, who had collapsed in the track's barn area last May. Allen began CPR and assisted EMTs when they arrived on the scene. To see Allen's story, click here. Also honored by RTCA White Horse nominations this year were: Julie Berry from Blue Grass Farms Charities; Jonathan Estrada from Belmont Park; Nick Garafola and Veronica Gallardo from...

Beginning with opening day May 15, 2022, all 3-year-olds and older that ran in any claiming race at least once at any track since Jan. 1, 2021, receive a $1,000 bonus ($750 to the horse owner, $250 to the trainer) in the horse's first start in any claiming race at Emerald Downs which must occur before July 1, 2022. "It's important to extend bonuses to all horses," track president Phil Ziegler said. "We appreciate shippers, of course, but we also recognize that some of our owners and trainers race exclusively...

Assuming that you, too, have by this stage marvelled at the tenacity, balance and athleticism of Alex Cruz in winning a race despite losing both irons leaving the gate, at Emerald Downs last weekend, then perhaps you might also have been prompted to reassess our prejudices against the seat of the 18th Century guardsman. To the modern eye, the long-shanked equitation of those days appears ludicrous: awkward, stilted and, above all, inimical to the freedom of the horse's movement. We think of the elevation of the modern jockey, as popularized...