Longacres Mile tops extended meeting
AUBURN, Wash. - The 70th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile highlights a list of 36 stakes worth $2,135,000 to be run at the 2005 Emerald Downs meeting, which will include 101 days of racing, from April 15 through Oct. 16.
The number and names of the stakes have not changed, but many dates have been altered to accommodate the longer season. Last year's meet ran 89 days, from April 16 through Sept. 20.
The total stakes money has increased by $65,000, courtesy of the Northwest Race Series, which upped its contribution from $220,000 to $285,000. The Federal Way Handicap, the Pepsi Cola Handicap and the Tacoma Handicap have all been boosted by $10,000, to $50,000, $50,000 and $60,000, respectively, while the Kent Handicap has been increased $20,000 to $60,000 and the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes has been boosted $25,000 to $75,000. The Irish Day Handicap has been reduced by $10,000 to $40,000, which is the minimum stakes purse.
In addition to the Mile, which will be run on Sunday, Aug. 21, the meet will be highlighted by the third annual Washington Cup Day Oct. 2, when eight stakes worth a total of $400,000 will be contested.
2005 Emerald Downs stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sun.,April 17 | U.S. BANK STAKES | 3YO F | 6 furlongs | $40,000 |
| Sun.,April 24 | SEATTLE HANDICAP | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,May 1 | AUBURN STAKES | 3YO C&G | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,May 8 | HASTINGS PARK HANDICAP | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,May 15 | FEDERAL WAY HANDICAP | 3YO F | 6 1/2 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sun.,May 22 | FOX SPORTS NET HANDICAP | 3YO & Up | 6 1/2 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Mon.,May 30 | PEPSI-COLA HANDICAP | 3YO C&G | 6 1/2 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sun.,June 5 | WASH. STATE LEGISLATORS | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 1/2 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,June 12 | IRISH DAY HANDICAP | 3YO F | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sun.,June 19 | BUDWEISER EMD HANDICAP | 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 75,000 |
| Sun.,June 26 | TACOMA HANDICAP | 3YO C&G | 1 mile | 60,000 |
| Sun.,July 3 | KING COUNTY HANDICAP | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile4 | 0,000 |
| Sun.,July 3 | INDEPENDENCE DAY H. | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 40,000 |
| Sun.,July 10 | KENT HANDICAP | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 60,000 |
| Sun.,July 24 | ANGIE C STAKES | 2YO F | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,July 30 | EMERALD EXPRESS STAKES | 2YO C&G | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,July 30 | BOEING HANDICAP | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 40,000 |
| Sun.,July 31 | GOVERNOR'S HANDICAP | 3YO & Up | 6 1/2 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,July 31 | MT. RAINIER BREEDERS' CUP | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Aug. 7 | SEATTLE SLEW BREEDERS' CUP | 3YO C&G | 1 1/16 miles | 65,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 20 | NWSS KNIGHTS CHOICE STAKES | 2YO F | 6 1/2 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 20 | NWSS STRONG RULER STAKES | 2YO C&G | 6 1/2 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 20 | WASHINGTON BRS' CUP OAKS | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Aug. 21 | EMERALD BC DISTAFF | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Aug. 21 | LONGACRES MILE (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 250,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 5 | EMERALD BC DERBY | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 10 | BARBARA SHINPOCH STAKES | 2YO F | 1 mile | 75,000 |
| Sun.,Sept. 11 | WTBA LADS STAKES | 2YO C&G | 1 mile | 50,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 2 | DIANE KEM STAKES | 2YO F* | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 2 | CAPTAIN CONDO STAKES | 2YO C&G* | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 2 | JOHN & KITTY FLETCHER STAKES | 3YO F* | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 2 | TROOPER SEVEN STAKES | 3YO C&G* | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 2 | CHINOOK PASS SPRINT | 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 2 | BELLE ROBERTS | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles | 50,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 2 | MUCKLESHOOT TRIBAL CLASSIC | 3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 15 | GOTTSTEIN FUTURITY | 2YO | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
* Washington-breds