Author: Lindsay Griffin
When people think of activities in Washington State, they typically first jump to Seattle, the Pacific Ocean, and the Space Needle. Horse racing is not something a tourist might first imagine when planning a trip to Washington; after all, the state is thousands of miles away from the famed blue grass in Kentucky.
However, while Washington horse racing does not have the name recognition of Kentucky, Florida, or California making headlines in the horse racing news by TwinSpires, there is a thriving racing community in the state which centers around their most noted track, Emerald Downs, and the stud farms standing the state’s top stallions.
Stud Farms
Washington State is home to a number of stud farms, which stand the state’s leading stallions. Offspring from these stallions are eligible to compete in restricted races for state-bred horses, as well as any open competition Thoroughbred race.
Washington State’s top stallion for 2022 as of this writing is Conveyance, a son of Indian Charlie who stands at Blue Ribbon Farm. Conveyance, who won the Grade III San Rafael Stakes and the Grade III Southwest Stakes on the 2010 Kentucky Derby trail, is the sire of stakes winners Nobody Listens and Plane Talk. Those interested in visiting Conveyance or keeping up with his offspring should contact the farm through their website, which connects to their social media presence as well.
El Dorado Farms is home to five Thoroughbred stallions, the most prominent of which in 2022 has been multiple graded stakes-placed Coast Guard, the sire of 2022 Emerald Distaff Stakes winner Zippin Sevenz. El Dorado Farms care for horses at all stages of life; in addition to breeding stallions, the farm offers boarding, training, foaling, and nurse mare services.
Emerald Downs
Emerald Downs first opened in June of 1996 with a 100 day race meet in the early fall. The track was built to replace the historic Longacres track, which had closed four years earlier. Initially, the Emerald Downs meets were run from June to November, but they are presently run from April until September.
One aspect of Emerald Downs that is unique among North American racetracks is that it is owned by the Native American tribe, the Muckleshoot Tribe, that is indigenous to the land the track is built on. The Muckleshoot Tribe has been responsible for many cultural enhancements within the Washington State region, and Emerald Downs is no exception. After purchasing the track in 2002, the tribe formed Emerald Downs Racing LLC in 2015, and has since improved upon the track’s technology in several ways, including installing a 1150 square foot big screen in the infield.
Emerald Downs hosts a number of stakes races throughout its meet. The most prestigious day of the meet typically happens in mid-August, which includes the track’s richest stakes races: the $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby for three-year-olds, the $75,000 Washington Oaks for three-year-old fillies, the $75,000 Emerald Distaff for fillies and mares three and older, and most importantly, the $150,000 Longacres Mile for any horses three and older.
The 2022 edition of the Longacres Mile was won by Slew’s Tiz Whiz, who had won the Governor’s Stakes at Emerald Downs earlier in the meet. The gelded son of Slew’s Tiznow closed fast throughout the stretch to win by 2 ¾ lengths over Papa’s Golden Boy, increasing his current winning streak to three.
Although the 2022 meet is well under way, there are several stakes races on the calendar left to be run, including the Washington Cup Juvenile and the Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies, both worth $50,000. These races, for two-year-old males and females respectively, show off the top upcoming talent in the Pacific Northwest, and serve as a good omen for racing to come!
