Emerald Downs has announced 30 stakes events worth $1,685,000 in purses for its 2017 live racing season that begins Saturday, April 8.
The majority of stakes are scheduled in the latter half of the 70-day meet with 13 stakes in August. including the 82nd running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3) on Sunday, Aug. 13. The annual centerpiece of the meet, The Mile caps a stakes quadruple-header, featuring the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares and a pair of sprints for older horses – Pete Pedersen Memorial Overnight Stakes and the King County Overnight Stakes.
Twenty-seven stakes are scheduled on Sundays, beginning with the $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, May 7 and concluding with the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds on Sunday, Sept. 17.
From July 23 to Aug. 13, championship events will occur in four different categories: $75,000 Washington Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, Sunday, July 23; $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby, 3-year-olds, Sunday, July 30; and Longacres Mile/Emerald Distaff, Sunday, Aug. 13.
Mile Preview Day returns Sunday, July 16 with the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes for older horses and $50,000 Boeing Stakes for older fillies and mares, Mile Preview Day also features the season’s first stakes for 2-year-olds –$50,000 Emerald Express for colts and geldings and $50,000 Angie C Stakes for fillies – and a special Pick Four encompassing all four stakes races.
Washington Cup, featuring six stakes for Washington-breds worth an aggregate $300,000, returns for its 15th renewal Sunday, August 27 while Quarter Horses get an opportunity for big money in the $55,000 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge on Sunday, August 20.
The 2017 stakes schedule offers 12 races for older horses (six apiece for males and females), 10 for 3-year-olds (five apiece for males and females) and seven for 2-year-olds.
Emerald Downs’ stable area opens Saturday, Jan. 28 and training begins Monday, Jan. 30. Stall applications are available online at emeralddowns.com in the horsemen section. Or call the Emerald Downs race office at 253-288-7751.
2017 Emerald Downs stakes schedule
30 Stakes: $1,685,000
Date, stakes, purse
Sunday, May 7, Seattle Stakes (3-year-old fillies) 6 furlongs, $50,000
Sunday, May 14, Auburn Stakes (3 YO, colts and geldings) 6 F, $50,000
Saturday, May 20, Hastings Stakes (3&UP fillies and mares) 6F, $50,000
Sunday, May 21, Governor’s Stakes (3&UP) 6 F, $50,000
Sunday, May 28, Kent Stakes (3YO F) 6 ½ F, $50,000
Sunday, June 4, Coca-Cola Stakes (3YO C&G) 6 ½ F, $50,000
Saturday, June 17, WA State Legislators S (3&UP F&M) 6 ½ F, $50,000
Sunday, June 18, Budweiser Stakes (3&UP) 6 ½ F, $50,000
Sunday, June 25, Irish Day Stakes (3YO F) 1 mile, $50,000
Sunday, July 2, Seattle Slew Stakes (3YO C&G) 1 M, $50,000
Sunday, July 16, Mt. Rainier Stakes (3&UP) 1-1/16 M $50,000
Sunday, July 16, Boeing Stakes (3&UP F&M) 1M $50,000
Sunday, July 16, Angie C Stakes (2YO F) 5 ½ F, $50,000
Sunday, July 16, Emerald Express (2YO C&G) 5 ½ F, $50,000
Sunday, July 23, Washington Oaks (3YOF) 1-1/8 M, $75,000
Sunday, July 30, Emerald Downs Derby (3YO) 1-1/8 M, $75,000
Saturday, Aug. 5, Barbara Shinpoch Stakes (2YO F) 6 F, $50,000
Sunday, Aug. 6, WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO C&G) 6 F, $50,000
Sunday, Aug. 13, Pete Pedersen Memorial S (3&UP) 6 ½ F, $25,000
Sunday, Aug. 13, King County Overnight S (3&UP F&M) 6 ½, $25,000
Sunday, Aug. 13, Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M) 1-1/8 M, $65,000
Sunday, Aug. 13, Longacres Mile (G3) (3&UP) 1 M, $200,000
Sunday, Aug. 20, Bank of America Challenge (3&UP) 440 yards, $55,000
Sunday, Aug. 27, WA Cup Juvenile Filly Stakes, 6 F, $50,000
Sunday, Aug. 27, WA Cup Juvenile C & G Stakes, 6, F, $50,000
Sunday, August 27 WA Cup Sophomore Filly Stakes, 1 M, $50,000
Sunday, August 27 WA Cup Sophomore Stakes, 1 M, $50,000
Sunday, August 27 WA Cup Filly & Mare Stakes, 1-1/16 M, $50,000
Sunday, August 27 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, 1-1/16 M, $50,000
Sunday, Sept. 17, Gottstein Futurity (2YO) 1-1/16 M, $65,000
* Quarter Horse (not included in purse total)
