Emerald Downs will offer a total of $1,545,00 in stakes purses beginning May 12 with the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for older fillies and mares and ending closing day, Sept. 29, with a doubleheader for 2-year-olds consisting of the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity and the $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes.
The Washington track's signature race is the $200,000 Longacres Mile (gr. III), which will be run for the 78th time Aug. 18 as part of a stakes doubleheader also featuring the $65,000 Emerald Distaff.
A 29-race stakes schedule is set this year including Washington Cup XI for state-breds Sept. 8.
Designed to allow all divisions a chance for large purses, the stakes schedule features 10 events for older horses, 10 stakes for 3-year-olds, eight stakes for 2-year-olds, and one event for Quarter Horses.
"Our goal is to present a balanced stakes schedule, and to gradually stretch horses out to longer distances," said Bret Anderson, director of racing. "We aim to have horses peaking for the biggest races."
The road to the Longacres Mile begins with the $50,000 Governor's Handicap for 3-year-olds and-up at 6 1/2 furlongs May 19, and continues with the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile June 16. The $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1 1/16 miles July 21 serves as the final local prep for The Mile.
The 2-year-old division has been tweaked and tilted slightly toward the latter half of the season. The $75,000 Gottstein Futurity, the traditional championship event for juveniles, has been lengthened to 1 1/16 miles and is half of a closing day doubleheader featuring the newly minted $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.
The 75-day season, the 18th at Emerald Downs, begins April 19, with racing offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Post time is 6:45 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. weekends.
Holiday racing will be held May 27, July 4, and Sept. 2. There also will be special Wednesday racing on July 3 followed by the popular fireworks spectacular.
2013 Emerald Downs Stakes Schedule
May 12....$50,000 Hastings Handicap (3&UP F&M) 6F
May 19....$50,000 Governor's Handicap (3&UP) 6-1/2 F
May 26....$50,000 Seattle Handicap (3YO F) 6-1/2 F
June 2.....$50,000 Auburn Handicap (3YO C&G) 6-1/2 F
June 9.....$50,000 WA State Legislators (3&UP F&M) 6-1/2 F
June 16...$50,000 Budweiser Handicap (3&UP) 1M
June 23...$50,000 Irish Day Handicap (3YO F) 1M
June 23...$50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap (3YO C&G) 1M
July 7......$50,000 Boeing Handicap (3&UP F&M) 1M
July 14....$50,000 Kent Handicap (3YO F) 1-1/16
July 14....$50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap (3YO C&G) 1-1/16
July 21....$50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap (3&UP) 1-1/16
July 28....$50,000 Emerald Express (2YO C&G) 6F
Aug 4......$50,000 Angie C Stakes (2YO F) 6F
Aug 10....$65,000 Washington Oaks (3YO F) 1-1/8
Aug 11....$65,000 Emerald Downs Derby (3YO) 1-1/8
Aug 17... $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO C&G) 6-1/2 F
Aug 18 ...$65,000 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M) 1-1/8
Aug 18... $200,000 Longacres Mile (gr.III) (3&UP) 1M
Aug 25....$50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakesotherwest race (2YO F) 6-1/2 F
Sept 1.....TBA Bank of America Chmp Challenge**
Washington Cup XI
Sept 8.....$35,000 Diane Kem Stakes (2YO F) 6F
Sept 8.....$35,000 Dennis Dodge Stakes (2YO C&G) 6F
Sept 8.....$35,000 John & Kitty Fletcher Stakes (3YO F) 1M
Sept 8....,$35,000 Chinook Pass Stakes (3YO C&G) 1M
Sept 8. ..,$35,000 Belle Roberts (3&UP F&M) 1-1/16
Sept 8... $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3&UP) 1-1/16
Sept 29...$75,000 Gottstein Futurity (2YO) 1-1/16
Sept 29...$50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes* (2YO) 6F
**Quarter Horse
