Emerald Downs schedules 30 stakes, topped by Grade 3 Longacres Mile
Emerald Downs will run 30 stakes worth $1,685,000 in purses during its 2017 racing season, which runs from April 8 through Sept. 17.
Most of the stakes are scheduled in the latter half of the 70-day meet, with 13 stakes in August, including the 82nd running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile on Sunday, Aug. 13. The Longacres Mile tops a four-stakes card that includes the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for fillies and mares and a pair of $25,000 sprints, the Pete Pedersen Memorial and the King County.
Twenty-seven of the stakes are scheduled for Sundays, beginning with the $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on May 7 and concluding with the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds on Sept. 17.
Other stakes highlights include Mile Preview Day (July 16), which includes four $50,000 stakes – the Mt. Rainier for older horses, the Boeing for fillies and mares, and the Emerald Express and Angie C for 2-year-olds. There will be a pick four comprising the stakes.
The $75,000 Washington Oaks will be run July 23, the $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby on July 30. Washington Cup, featuring six stakes for Washington-breds worth an aggregate $300,000, returns for its 15th renewal Aug. 27.