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Live Racing At Emerald Downs Resumes Wednesday; Superfecta Takeout Reduced To 15 Percent

Live racing returns as Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash. begins its 25th season with a 10-race program on Wednesday, June 24. First post is 2:15 p.m.

Racing will be conducted with no fans or spectators at this time.

Eighty-six horses are entered on opening day (8.6 per race) and will perform under ideal weather conditions. The forecast calls for sunshine and a high of 77 degrees.

Wednesday's opener also marks the region's first live sporting event in the state of Washington since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown in March. Spectators will not be allowed on-track, but wagering is available via various advance deposit wagering (ADW) companies.

“It's exciting to get going,” said Emerald Downs' President Phil Ziegler. “It certainly isn't the opening day we were planning for, but it will be special in its own way as it marks the return of pro sports in Washington.”

The updated schedule calls for a 44-day season through Sunday, October 4, with racing every Wednesday and Thursday (5 p.m.)

Emerald Downs also has announced an industry low 15% takeout on all superfecta wagers with a minimum bet of 10 cents.

A revised stakes schedule includes 16 stakes worth an aggregate $720,000, tentatively beginning with the $40,000 Angie C Stakes and $40,000 King County Express on Aug. 2. The 85th renewal of the $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3) is tentatively set for Sept. 13.

In the jockey colony, defending riding champion Gary Wales has nine mounts opening day. A 34-year-old Scotsman, Wales rode 99 winners last year while finishing 33 wins clear of runner-up Kevin Orozco. A top newcomer is Alex Cruz, a 27-year-old native of Puerto Rico who was the leading rider with 77 wins this winter at Turf Paradise. Juan Gutierrez, begins the season needing 46 wins to tie Gallyn Mitchell's all-time Emerald Downs' record of 1,419 wins.

On the trainers' side, Frank Lucarelli comes off a remarkable season in which he shattered the single-season mark with 81 wins. Lucarelli has finished first or second in 16 of the last 20 seasons and ranks No. 1 all-time in Emerald Downs wins (1,025) and earnings ($11,164,219). Blaine Wright, the leading stakes trainer each of the last four years, also returns in 2020, along with Washington Hall of Fame trainers Howard Belvoir, Doris Harwood, Sharon Ross and Tim McCanna. Belvoir and Lucarelli are both busy opening day, with seven and six horses entered respectively.

The opening day feature is a $13,600 allowance/optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The 11-horse field includes Wine At Nine, an 8-year-old gelding with 17 career Emerald Downs' wins, along with local stakes winners This Great Nation, Makah Lane and Muncey.

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Tiz the Law’s Connections Targeting Travers for Next Start

Moments after Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law captured the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets at Belmont Park June 20, trainer Barclay Tagg could be heard asking those in charge of the trophy presentation to hurry things up – he had to get back to his horses.

BHA Working on Plan to Allow Phased Return of Owners

British racing resumed behind closed doors on June 1, and now, with these first weeks back going well and in accordance with the UK government’s safety protocols, the British Horseracing Authority is working on a template to allow owners to observe their horses race on location. In a letter sent to racehorse owners on Monday by the BHA, the BHA’s Chief Operating Officer Richard Wayman thanked the owners for their support in these challenging times due to the coronavirus situation and outlined plans for their return in the near future. The letter reads in part:

“I want to thank owners for your continued patience and understanding during a very difficult period for our sport. You’ve shown incredible loyalty and I know how disappointing it is that you haven’t been able to watch your horses run.

“In the early stages of resumption, we have had to limit racecourse attendance to only the very minimum number of attendees with essential functional roles. This has enabled us to embed the new safety protocols in raceday operations and give participants time to adjust to different ways of working.

“Nonetheless, we have stated repeatedly that owners are integral to racing, and that getting you back onto the racecourse is an absolute priority as soon as it is safe and practicable to do so.

“We’ve been working on a phased, risk-managed plan, that adheres to the necessary safety protocols, including social distancing. We expect to have specific proposals ready to share very soon–and look forward to welcoming owners back onto the racecourse.”

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Top Timber Contenders Andi’amu, Doc Cebu Will Line Up In Saturday’s Virginia Gold Cup

This year, for the first time in its 95-year history and due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Virginia Gold is being held as a livestream event only—no spectators. As one of the largest steeplechase race meets in the U.S., the usual 60,000 on-site spectators and the roar of the crowd as horses race for the finish will be missed by many.

On Saturday, June 27, the Virginia Gold Cup will be livestreamed starting at 12:15 p.m. EDT. Jockeys, trainers, grooms and only essential personnel are allowed on the race grounds and all are following strict CDC and health department guidelines. The livestream is available at no cost and may be seen at this link http://nsa.network.video/.

A total of 106 horses will run in 10 races on the 27th with $220,000 in purse money, and the signature race is the Virginia Gold Cup with its $40,000 purse. While the other races have as many as 14 contenders, the Virginia Gold Cup is a timber race that requires stamina and ability. The race is four miles, which is long for many horses (the hurdle races throughout the day are 2-1/8 miles long.)

While the Virginia Gold Cup has attracted a quality field of entries, two horses in particular stand out—Andi'amu and Doc Cebu. They are timber champions and each horse has a solid record. In 2019, Andi'amu won the Virginia Gold Cup by three lengths. Doc Cebu won the International Gold Cup in 2017 with an 11-length victory and he won again in 2018. He was second in the esteemed 2020 Middleburg Hunt Cup two weeks ago against Andi'amu, the winner.

Another contender for the Virginia Gold Cup is Schoodic. He won the 2019 International Gold Cup and Genesee Valley Hunt Cup. He opened his timber career in 2019 with three starting victories. Other entries include Lemony Bay, Super Saturday, Curve of Stones, Storm Team and Codrington College—all are formidable contenders.

The Virginia Gold Cup race gets underway at 3 p.m. EDT on June 27. There are also other exciting races throughout the day. The Steeplethon, a three-mile timber race at 1:30 p.m. takes horses and jockeys around a very unusual course that includes a big splash as horses gallop across a pond as part of the course.

In addition to racing, there will be virtual tailgate, hat and trivia contests throughout the day. Learn more at : www.facebook.com/vagoldcup, www.instagram.com/virginiagoldcup/ or @vagoldcup. Be sure to include #vagoldcup2020. Entries must be sent by midnight Saturday, June 27. Winners will be selected by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 29 and notified on the week of June 29. The winning tailgate (first place) will receive an Oakwood Box to the 2020 International Gold Cup. Runners up and hat contest winners will receive Gold Cup t-shirts, commemorative cups, and Gold Cup hats. For the tailgate contest, three winners will be selected in first, second and third place based on creativity, theme and quality of menu. For the hat contest, five winners will be selected—most glamourous, most outrageous, best racing theme, best men's hat and best child's hat.

Trivia questions throughout the day on the 27th will include questions to action on the livestream. First respondents with correct answers will be able to win tickets to future Gold Cup races, hats, shirts, etc.

“We hope some of our many Virginia Gold Cup fans will celebrate the day with safe-distancing watch parties, tailgating and hat contests,” stated Dr. William Allison, chairman of the Virginia Gold Cup Association.

For more information on the 95th running of the Virginia Gold Cup, visit vagoldcup.com.

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