All-sources handle up at 2018 Emerald Downs meet

Despite racing five fewer days, the all-sources mutuel handle of $74,149,864 at Emerald Downs this year was up 6.6 percent compared with the $69,581,303 wagered in 2017. The 67-day meet concluded Sunday.

The daily average of $1,106,714 was up by 14.5 percent over last year’s average of $966,406.

The daily ontrack average was up slightly, $159,223 compared to $157,246. The average attendance was virtually unchanged, 3,741 this year opposed to 3,748 in 2017.

The average field size of 7.04 starters per race was up marginally from 6.99 last year.

“We had a good meet,” said Emerald Downs president Phil Ziegler. “We had great responses to our promotions, and it helped that we had such good weather. I think we had just a couple of days when the track wasn’t fast. We had some really exciting races and I would like to thank the horsemen for all their support.”

It was the first year Emerald started their meet on a Sunday, and beginning in June through the end of the meet, the first time they raced on a regular basis on Saturday night.

“There was a good flow to the meet, so I think next year’s schedule will be similar,” said Ziegler.

Rocco Bowen was the leading rider for a record third straight year.

Jeff Metz captured his fourth training title.

Blaine Wright was the leading trainer by stakes wins (9) and earnings ($787,191).

By virtue of his four stakes wins, Sippin Fire was voted the horse of the meet. The 3-year-old Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold is trained by Steve Bullock and owned by How We Roll 4.

H. R. Pat Mullens received an award for top training achievement for being the oldest trainer to win a stakes race at Emerald. The 91-year-old conditioner won the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and $25,000 Pete Pedersen Overnight Stakes with Hit the Beach.

The Howard Belvoir-trained Barkley was the top money earner at the meet with $144,475. Most of it came from his win over Alert Bay in the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile.