The Emerald Downs Racetrack & Casino in Auburn has announced a revised stakes schedule featuring a new date for the Grade 3 Longacres Mile.
Sixteen stakes are scheduled at the 44-day meeting, beginning Aug. 2 with a doubleheader for 2-year-olds and concluding Oct. 4 with a triple-header featuring a pair of Washington Cup events and the championship Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds.
The 85th running of the Longacres Mile is Sunday, Sept. 13, a date that also features the Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares. The $100,000 Longacres Mile and $60,000 Gottstein Futurity are the richest races of the season.
Emerald Downs is scheduled to open June 22 with no fans in attendance. Initially races will be conducted every Monday and Tuesday. Fans will be able to bet from home on the internet. Racing was originally scheduled to begin on April 18. Horses have been in training since Feb. 1.
Horse racing without public participation is included in Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start Washington” plan. Upon entering Phase 4, racing will open to the public and Emerald Downs will return to a traditional weekend race schedule.
The schedule features six stakes for 3-year-olds and up (three apiece for older horses and older fillies and mares), four stakes for 3-year-olds (two apiece for colts and geldings and fillies) and five for 2-year-olds (two apiece for colts and geldings and fillies, and one open).
The 15 Thoroughbred stakes total $680,000 in purses, while the $40,000 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge is offered for Quarter Horses. Fourteen stakes races are $40,000 purses.
Emerald Downs also revised its race dates for 2020, announcing a 44-day meet opening June 22 and continuing through Oct. 4.
Revised 2020 Emerald Downs stakes schedule
(16 Stakes: $720,000)
Sun Aug 2 $40,000 Angie C Stakes (2YO F) 5 ½ F
Sun Aug 2 $40,000 King County Express (2YO CG) 5 ½ F
Sun Aug 9 $40,000 Coca-Cola Stakes (3YO F) 6 ½ F
Sun Aug 9 $40,000 Seattle Slew Stakes (3YO CG) 6 ½ F
Sun Aug 16 $40,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes (3&UP) 6 ½ F
Sun Aug 16 $40,000 Boeing Stakes (3&UP FM) 6 ½ F
Sun Aug 23 $40,000 Bank of America Challenge (3&UP) 440 Y
Sun Aug 30 $40,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes (2YO F) 6 ½ F
Sun Aug 30 $40,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO CG) 6 ½ F
Sat Sept 5 $40,000 Muckleshoot Derby (3YO) 1 1/16 M
Sun Sept 6 $40,000 Washington Oaks (3YOF) 1 1/16 M
Sun Sept 13 $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3) (3&UP) 1M
Sun Sept 13 $40,000 Emerald Distaff (3&UP FM) 1 1/16 M
Sun Oct 4 $40,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3&UP WA) 1 1/16 M
Sun Oct 4 $40,000 WA Cup Filly & Mare Stakes (3&UP FM WA) 1 1/16 M
Sun Oct 4 $60,000 Gottstein Futurity (2YO) 1 1/16 M
