Emerald Downs Opens for 2019 Meet

By Emily Shields

Emerald Downs, a popular racing destination outside Seattle, Washington, begins their 2019 meet on Saturday, April 20. There will be 67 days of racing through September 22, starting with just the Saturday this weekend, then Friday and Saturday through early May. Friday racing is added thereafter starting May 10.

The racing on Friday is twilight racing beginning at 6:30pm local time, with post time on Saturdays being at 2 or 5pm. This first race card begins at 2.

This year’s stakes schedule is comprised of 27 races worth $1,550,000. The biggest race of the year is the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) which takes place August 11. That same card includes the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and the $50,000 Washington Oaks. The meet’s most prestigious race for juveniles, the $100,000 Gottstein Futurity, will take place on closing day.

The first race card of the year features nine races, including a maiden special weight over five furlongs that does as Race 4. The purse is $18,500, the highest on the day. It drew a field of eight, including both Kentucky and California-bred fillies along with those bred in Washington state. Sires represented include popular local horse Harbor the Gold and Kentucky’s Darby Dan Farm sires Dialed In and Shackleford.

The meet is expected to feature the return of popular older horse Barkley, who is nine for 17 on his career. The son of Munnings was a standout at two and three, then took the Longacres Mile last year at five. He has already have five works over the surface here since the track opened. A Howard Belvoir-trainee, Barkley has earned over $350,000.

Play Emerald Downs on TVG this Saturday and all summer long!

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