Emerald Downs offers incentives to horsemen
Emerald Downs has announced it will offer $475,000 in incentives for horsemen during its upcoming 70-day meet, which runs April 8 through Sept. 17.
The incentives include:
* A trainer participation program, which includes an early-bird move-in bonus from February-May; reduced start-up costs (first eight bags of bedding per stall provided); and lower fees on both dorm rentals and mechanical hot-walkers. Also, trainers can recover a portion of their stall costs based on a stall efficiency factor and conservation of utilities.
* Every unplaced starter will receive a $200 participation fee.
* Ship-and-run incentive program, which awards out-of-state horses a $400 bonus for their initial start at Emerald Downs. The bonus is for horses whose most recent start was outside the state and have not previously raced at Emerald Downs. In addition, horses must have started for a claiming price of $3,000 or more in each of their three previous starts. First-time starters are not eligible.
The Emerald Downs stable area opens Saturday, Jan. 28, and training begins Monday, Jan. 30. Stall applications are available online at emeralddowns.com, or by calling the race office at (253) 288-7751.