Emerald Downs in Auburn has announced 23 stakes worth $1.24 million in purses for its 2023 live horse racing season that begins Saturday, May 6.
The 88th running of the $150,000 Longacres Mile anchors an Aug. 13 stakes quadruple-header featuring the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby and $50,000 Washington Oaks, according to a post on emeralddowns.com. The track’s premier event for 3-year-olds and up, the Longacres Mile was captured in 2022 by KD Thoroughbreds Slew’s Tiz Whiz over Lusk Racing’s Papa’s Golden Boy as Washington-breds took down the top two spots.
The older horse division begins with the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes (6F) on Sunday, June 25, followed by the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes (6 ½ F) on Sunday, July 23, and the Longacres Mile.
The 2023 stakes schedule features eight stakes double-headers, the Super Sunday quadruple-header Aug. 14, and a closing day triple-header Sunday, Sept. 17, featuring the $70,000 Gottstein Futurity for the Northwest’s top 2-year-olds.
The $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and $50,000 Auburn Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings kick off stakes action on Sunday, June 18.
Seven stakes are offered for 2-year-olds—three apiece for fillies and colts and geldings—finishing with the Gottstein Futurity at a mile and one-sixteenth.
Washington Cup features four stakes—$50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings and $50,000 Washington Cup and $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies on Sunday, Aug. 27, and $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and $50,000 Washington Cup Fillies & Mares on Sunday, Sept. 17. The 2-year-old Washington Cup races are restricted to Washington-breds while the older horse events are open to Washington and British Columbia breds.
In addition to 21 Thoroughbred stakes, Emerald Downs offers two stakes for Quarter Horses—$30,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship for 2-year-olds and the 14th running of the $40,000 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge for 3-year-olds and up.
Opening day Saturday, May 6, coincides with the 149th Kentucky Derby. The 52-day meet concludes Sunday, Sept. 17.
2023 Emerald Downs Stakes Schedule
Sun June 18 Seattle Stakes (3YOF) 6F $50,000
Sun June 18 Auburn Stakes (3YO) 6F $50,000
Sun June 25 Hastings Stakes (3&UP F&M) 6F $50,000
Sun June 25 Budweiser Stakes (3&UP) 6F $50,000
Sun July 9 Angie C Stakes (2YOF) 5 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 9 King County Express (2YO C&G) 5 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 16 Kent Stakes (3YOF) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 16 Irish Day Stakes (3YO) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 23 Governor’s Stakes (3&UP) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 23 WA St Legislators S (3&UP F&M) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 6 WTBOA Lassies Stakes (2YOF) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 6 WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO C&G) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 13 Muckleshoot Derby (3YO) 1 1/16 M $50,000
Sun Aug 13 Washington Oaks (3YOF) 1 1/16 M $50,000
Sun Aug 13 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M) 1 1/16 M $50,000
Sun Aug 13 Longacres Mile (3&UP 1M $150,000
Sun Aug 20 Bank of America EmD Chlg (3&UP) 440Y $40,000
Sun Aug 20 John Deere Juvenile Challenge (2YO) 350Y $30,000
Sun Aug 27 WA Cup Juvenile Filly (2YOF WA) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 27 WA Cup Juvenile C&G (2YO WA) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Sept 17 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3& UP) 1 1/16 M $50,000
Sun Sept 17 WA Cup Filly & Mare (3&UP F&M) 1 1/16 M $50,000
Sun Sept 17 Gottstein Futurity (2YO) 1 1/16 M $70,000
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