A 29-race stakes schedule featuring the 78th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3), four stakes double-headers and Washington Cup XI has been announced for 2013 at Emerald Downs.
Beginning May 12 with the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for older fillies and mares, and ending closing day, September 29, with a double-header for 2-year-olds of the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity and $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes, a total of $1,545,00 will be offered in stakes purses.
Twenty-seven stakes are scheduled on Sundays including the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3), which will be run Sunday, August 18, as part of a stakes double-header also featuring the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares.
Annually attracting many of the nation’s top middle-distance horses, the Longacres Mile culminates a tremendous eight-day stretch of racing that features championship races in four categories. Saturday, August 10, features 3-year-old fillies in the $65,000 Washington Oaks at 1-1/8 miles, and Sunday, August 11, 3-year-old colts and geldings line up in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby, also at 1-1/8 miles.
In all, August features seven stakes worth an aggregate $535,000 in purses.
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 Director of Racing Bret Anderson. “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 6-½ furlongs, Sunday, May 19, and continues with the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile, Sunday, June 16. The $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1-1/16 miles, Sunday, 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 double-header featuring the newly minted $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.
The Gottstein and Cahill Road are the final events of the Northwest Race Series for 2-year-olds, which begins July 28 with the $50,000 Emerald Express for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
Washington Cup XI-six races exclusively for Washington-breds worth an aggregate $225,000-is scheduled Sunday, September 8, culminating with the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for 3-year-olds and-up at 1-1/16-miles.
The 75-day season, the 18th at Emerald Downs, begins Friday, 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 Monday, May 27, Thursday, July 4, and Monday, September 2. There also will be special Wednesday racing on July 3 followed by the popular fireworks spectacular.
2013 EMERALD DOWNS STAKES SCHEDULE
29 Stakes Total Gross: $1,545,000
DATE PURSE NAME
Sun May 12 $50,000 Hastings Handicap (3&UP F&M) 6F
Sun May 19 $50,000 Governor’s Handicap (3&UP) 6-½ F
Sun May 26 $50,000 Seattle Handicap (3YO F) 6-½ F
Sun June 2 $50,000 Auburn Handicap (3YO C&G) 6-½ F
Sun June 9 $50,000 WA State Legislators Stakes (3&UP F&M) 6-½ F
Sun June 16 $50,000 Budweiser Handicap (3&UP) 1M
Sun June 23 $50,000 Irish Day Handicap (3YO F) 1M
Sun June 23 $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap (3YO C&G) 1M
Sun July 7 $50,000 Boeing Handicap (3&UP F&M) 1M
Sun July 14 $50,000 Kent Handicap (3YO F) 1-1/16M
Sun July 14 $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap (3YO C&G) 1-1/16M
Sun July 21 $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap (3&UP) 1-1/16M
Sun July 28 $50,000 Emerald Express * (2YO C&G) 6F
Sun Aug 4 $50,000 Angie C Stakes* (2YO F) 6F
Sat Aug 10 $65,000 Washington Oaks (3YO F) 1-1/8M
Sun Aug 11 $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby (3YO) 1-1/8M
Sat Aug 17 $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes* (2YO C&G) 6-½ F
Sun Aug 18 $65,000 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M) 1-1/8M
Sun Aug 18 $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) (3&UP) 1M
Sun Aug 25 $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes* (2YO F) 6-½ F
Sun Sep 1 TBA Bank of America Chmp Challenge**(3&UP) 440 Y
Washington Cup XI
DATE PURSE NAME
Sun Sep 8 $35,000 Diane Kem Stakes (2YO F WA) 6F
Sun Sep 8 $35,000 Dennis Dodge Stakes (2YO C&G WA) 6F
Sun Sep 8 $35,000 John & Kitty Fletcher Stakes (3YO F WA) 1M
Sun Sep 8 $35,000 Chinook Pass Stakes (3YO C&G WA) 1M
Sun Sep 8 $35,000 Belle Roberts (3&UP F&M WA) 1-1/16M
Sun Sep 8 $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3&UP WA) 1-1/16M
Sun Sep 29 $75,000 Gottstein Futurity* (2YO) 1-1/16M
Sun Sep 29 $50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes* (2YO) 6F
*NORTHWEST RACE SERIES 2YO ($135,500)
**QUARTER HORSE
