Daily average handle soars at shortened meet
Daily average handle at the recently concluded Emerald Downs meet was a record $1,794,475, a 61 percent increase over last year. With limited attendance due to the pandemic, most of the wagering came from internet and mobile site customers located in the United States and Canada.
The 38-day meet, which ran from June 24 through Oct. 29, was originally scheduled to be 63 days and start on April 18 but was delayed due to stay at home orders issued by Washington officials on March 16.
Track president Phil Ziegler viewed the shortened meet as a success and noted there were no positive COVID cases at the Auburn, Wash., track.
“We want to thank all our shareholders for working together safely,” he said. “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.”
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Emerald plans to open for training for the 2021 season on March 1 with opening day in the middle of May.
“Nobody knows how the pandemic will play out so we are not sure what the actual schedule will be or if we will be able to have fans,” said Ziegler. “But we will be back racing in mid-May.”
Frank Lucarelli, the all-time leading trainer at Emerald, won his seventh training title with 42 wins.
Alex Cruz, 72 wins, was the leading jockey for the first time. Cruz, beginning Aug. 6, rode at least one winner on each of the final 25 days of the season.
Juan Gutierrez became the all-time leading rider at Emerald. The veteran rider closed out the meet with 1,425 wins, six more than Gallynn Mitchel.
Chad Christensen and Josh McKee led the owner standings. It was the second straight year for Christensen.
The Howard Belvoir-trained Dutton was named Horse of the Meeting. The 2-year-old son of Noositio won his three starts by a combined 25 1/2 lengths with stakes wins in the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity and $36,000 W.T.B.O.A. Lads.
Anothertwistafate gave trainer Blaine Wright his first win in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, the most important race at Emerald.