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Emerald Downs Concludes 2020 Season With Record Average Daily Handle

Emerald Downs concluded its 38-day 2020 racing season with record average daily handle. The track's 25th season was conducted with strict COVID protocols and without spectators.

Daily wagering averaged $1,796,475, a 61 percent increase over last year's average. Most of the wagering came from internet and mobile site customers located throughout the United States and Canada.

Track president Phil Ziegler reported there were no positive COVID cases: “We want to thank all our stakeholders for working together safely. We had unprecedented challenges not only at the track but in all aspects of our lives. We were the first professional sport to return in the state of Washington and through everyone's efforts we were able to put on a healthy and successful meet.”

Good health was not limited to the human participants. Over the 391 races conducted there were zero catastrophic breakdowns from the 2,895 starters.

On the track accomplishments included trainer Blaine Wright winning his first Longacres Mile with Anothertwistafate, Frank Lucarelli winning his 7th training title with 42 wins and Alex Cruz taking the jockey title with 72 wins in his first season at Emerald Downs.

2020 Season Timeline

• Barn area and training begins February 1. Opening Day scheduled for April 18.

• Stay at Home order issued on March 16. Only essential workers permitted in stable area as training and horse care continued. Opening Day delayed indefinitely.

• Approvals to run live racing (and other professional sports) posted by Governor's office on June 5.

• Washington Horse Racing Commission approves revised dates. Opening Day set for June 24 with racing Wednesdays and Thursdays without fans.

• June 24 – Opening Day. Horse Racing becomes the first professional sport to return in Washington.

• Longacres Mile is run on Thursday September 10th marking the first weekday running and the first time run under the lights.

• The 38 Day Race Meet concludes on Thursday, October 29.

Emerald Downs is located right off Highway 167 in Auburn, WA.

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Jockey Juan Gutierrez Becomes All-Time Leading Rider At Emerald Downs

Juan Gutierrez made riding history Wednesday afternoon at Emerald Downs, supplanting Gallyn Mitchell as the track's all-time leading rider.

With a 1¼-length victory on Stay in Grace in the featured $17,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse, Gutierrez moved one ahead of Mitchell—1,420 to 1,419—to become No. 1 all-time at Emerald Downs. He had tied Mitchell's mark with a victory aboard Mike Operator earlier on the card.

“You know, I was excited the last eighth of a mile when I was pretty sure we would get there,” Gutierrez said in the winner's circle after the victory on Stay in Grace. “This is a great record because it has taken a long time to get there.”

Gutierrez, 51, notched his first Emerald Downs' win April 29, 2000 and has been a mainstay here ever since. He recorded 15 consecutive top-five finishes in the riders' standings during one stretch, including a riding title in 2012 with 117 wins. He also ranks No. 1 in track earnings with over $15 million and No. 3 in stakes victories with 68, including three wins in the Longacres Mile. He ranks second at the current meet with 47 victories through Wednesday.

A 2018 inductee into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame, Gutierrez has 2,031 overall wins, hitting the 2,000 mark aboard Semi Sweet in July.

Gutierrez will be honored with a winner's circle ceremony before Thursday's first race.

Mitchell, the leading rider at Emerald Downs since 2002, retired four years ago and now resides in southern California.

Stay in Grace, a 5-year-old Oregon-bred mare by Understatement, has three wins in her last four starts and improved to 10 for 22 lifetime with earnings of $78,347. Rigoberto Velasquez is the trainer for owners Jerry Carmody and John Sneesby.

In Wednesday's victory, Stay in Grace ($3.20) gained command into the turn and held off B C Z Middleton in the drive, running six furlongs in 1:09.79

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Emerald Downs Announces 10 Percent Across-The-Board Purse Increase

Emerald Downs has announced a 10 percent purse increase for all races the final three weeks of the 2020 live racing season, Wednesday, Oct. 14 through Thursday, Oct. 29.

Through 30 days of live racing, handle is averaging $1,871,799, up 67% over last year.

According to Track President Phil Ziegler the purse increase is a result of better than expected handle.

“We have been pleased at the increased betting on our races plus the increased wagering by Washington residents through the advanced deposit companies,” Ziegler said.

The purse increase includes all races in the final condition book: Wednesday, Oct. 14, Thursday, Oct. 15, Wednesday, Oct. 21, Thursday, Oct. 22, Wednesday, Oct. 28 and Thursday, Oct. 29. For example, a $5,000 maiden claiming race is boosted 10 percent from $6,400 to $7,040, or an open $10,000 claiming race from $11,200 to $12,400.

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‘Unconditional Love’: Thoroughbred Star Of Children’s Book Debuts Wednesday At Emerald Downs

Two years ago, owner Tim Floyd was able to connect his orphaned Thoroughbred colt with a mare who'd lost her own foal. The colt, sired by Haynesfield and called “Baby Haynes” during his formative years, inspired Floyd to record the story of his “adoption” by the nurse mare, according to the Seattle Times.

“People were telling me, 'You ought to think about writing a book,' ” Floyd said. “I decided to go the children's book route. I'm adopted myself, so it had a connection to me.”

The book, titled “Baby Haynes: A True Story About Adoption and Unconditional Love,” was published in April. Now, five months later, the colt is preparing to make his racing debut at Emerald Downs on Wednesday. His Jockey Club name? Myuddermamasapaint.

“It would be an incredible story to have him win his debut, just because of the book,” Floyd said. “It might lead to a second book if he's a stakes horse and he's really good.”