Horse Racing NW

Emerald Downs Opening Day for 2022 is Sunday, May 15. The daily worktab is building toward the start of season #27 in Auburn. On the show - a recap of WTBOA award winners, admission specials for the upcoming season and some great shots of young foals (YouTube edition) by two new local sires - Barkley and Conveyance. Guest Jon White has been a prominent Kentucky Derby historian and handicapper for...

Emerald Downs announces another 10% purse increase effective Opening Day, May 15. That, on top of a 10% purse increase declared immediately after the close of the 2021 EmD season. Always great news to breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys and everybody else connected to local Thoroughbred racing! Guests this week include four-time EmD Leading Owner John Parker and also author/handicapper Eric Floyd....

Great news, more work necessary for the betterment of Washington Thoroughbred Racing. HB 1928 passed the House in the Washington State Legislature and moves on to the State Senate. The bill would provide funds to the racing industry for purses, breeders, horse aftercare, youth programs, the Racing Commission, fair meets, etc. Contact your local Senator and voice your support. Robert Geller, Matt D...

Guest on the podcast is Greg Conley, who along with father Chuck, has campaigned Mike Man's Gold for most of the past five seasons. Mike Man's Gold, Emerald Downs all-time winningest horse, will be back here for 2022 at age 12. Mike Man's Gold is also about to enter the metaverse, through Greg Conley and partners. Learn more about that this week. The 2022 Emerald Downs stakes schedule is out with...

President Dana Halvorson speaks to the career of retiring WTBOA General Manager Anne Sweet, ending her outstanding service at the end of the year. Sweet has spent over four decades at the organization, mastering a myriad of job titles and skills, greatly contributing to the Thoroughbred industry. Marshall Allen was named recipient of the 2021 Race Track Chaplaincy of America White Horse Award. The...

Track President Phil Ziegler is guest and there's great news for live racing at Emerald Downs for 2022! Racing dates have been requested, Horsemen Incentives announced for all 2021-22 first-time claiming horses and the stakes schedule will have a number of increased purses. Many 2021 EmD stakes stars are still in off-season mode while Blazingbellablu continues to blaze to a Washington three-year-o...

The 38th Breeders' Cup comes up this weekend at Del Mar and that's the theme of this week's Horse Racing NW podcast. We'll hear from Jon White and Anthony Stabile on B.C. angles and John Lindley joins Joe and Vince in the EmD studio. All involved have stories to tell and wagering angles to offer. Gates open at 9:00 am on Friday and 8:30 am on Saturday for all the great action at Del Mar and tracks...

Emerald Downs 2021 live racing season concluded last Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26 with plenty of on-track drama. Races were decided among leading owner, trainer and jockey which led to announcements of all season ending award winners. The top prize went to Top Executive, named Horse of the Meeting after going undefeated in three starts. He won three stakes and was the leading money earner. Tom...

It's closing week for the 2021 Emerald Downs meeting! 11 races both Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26. Note the earlier Saturday start, 6:00 pm first race. Plenty of bargains at the concessions stands on Sunday. John Lindley, author of well know "Parker's" tip sheet, joins Joe & Vince for discussion of contenders for seasonal honors. Lindley makes comparison to top horses this meeting to recent div...

Emerald Downs enters its final two weeks of racing for 2021 with tight races for leading owner, trainer and jockey. Racing this Saturday night, Sept. 18, at 6:30 pm (Pacific) and 2:30 pm on Sunday. Refreshed every Thursday by Vince Bruun, check out "News and Notes" at emeralddowns.com for updated info on the entire meeting. Horse Racing NW guest is Sharon Ross, half of the Washington Hall of Fame...

Indian Relay Racing broadcaster, publicist and producer Gayle Skunkcap joins Joe and Vince in a Muckleshoot Gold Cup preview. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10-12, is the 5th Muckleshoot Gold Cup with $67,000 in purses. 18 teams from across the west including former winners Carlson Relay, Starr School, Abrahamson Relay and River Road. Skunkcap speaks to new and returning teams and what to...

Three weekends of Thoroughbred action remain at Emerald Downs for 2021. Great races exist in the drive for leading owner, trainer and jockey. Stakes races this weekend include the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile and Juvenile Filly sprints. The track's all-time leading trainer, Frank Lucarelli, has four entered between the two stakes and he's the guest on this week's show. The 2021 Muckleshoot Gold...

Horse Racing NW reviews and previews weekly action at Emerald Downs. The Oaks and Derby provided excitement last week and our final three-day week of racing this season is this week, Sept. 2-5. With four weekends remaining, great races exist in owner, trainer and jockey standings. Stats, lists and trivia. The local Thoroughbred community laments the passing of Junior Coffey, ex-UW Husky and NFL pl...

Much more racing excitement in week upcoming at Emerald Downs! 10 horses entered in each of the Muckleshoot Derby and Washington Oaks on this Sunday's card. Stakes action from last weekend recapped as well as highlights from the WTBOA Sale. Stats, standings and trivia too. Studio guest this week is none other than Bob Rondeau, winning owner of the August 15 Longacres Mile with horse Background. Ro...

The Mile was Monumental and Memorable at Emerald Downs! Background's thrilling victory in the 86th running of the Longacres Mile is recapped by Joe and Vince. They're soon joined by trainer Sandi Gann who saddled Emerald Distaff winner Princess of Cairo and third-place Mile finisher Five Star General. Facts and Figures, selections and more trivia. Upcoming, four stakes races this Sunday, August 22...

It's Mile Week at Emerald Downs! Another tremendous edition of the Longacres Mile-gr3 is this Sunday, August 15. Positioning to the first turn could be key this year with several powerful speed horses among the 11 starters. Papa's Golden Boy drew post #1 and he'll face accomplished shippers Anyportinastorm, Background and Five Star General. Background, owned by Bob Rondeau and trained by Mike Puhi...

The 86th Longacres Mile is just over a week away with nominations in and weights announced on Saturday. Background is here from the midwest, Five Star General from British Columbia and Anyportinastorm expected from southern California. Other shippers possible to take on Papa's Golden Boy and top local stars. Trainer Chris Stenslie is this week's guest. From her barn comes possible Emerald Distaff...

Great racing for the Thoroughbreds and the ever-popular Corgis dogs highlight this week at Emerald Downs. The annual WTBOA Summer Yearling and Mixed sale is Tuesday, August 24, and WTBOA President Dana Halvorson has information on the Sale and much more. Leading jockey Alex Cruz's track-record 46-day winning streak is recapped. On-track action looks great for the upcoming week of Thursday, Saturda...

Papa's Golden Boy is the best horse at Emerald Downs! Stakes races from July 11, won by Papa's Golden Boy and Daffodil Sweet, are recapped. Papa's Golden Boy, dominant winner of the Governor's Stakes, is #2 in Washington-bred earnings so far this year. He trails only Harbored Memories, who races in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on Friday. Owner Roy Schaefer is this week's Horse Racing NW guest....

Horse Racing NW previews the upcoming three-day race week at Emerald Downs, featuring a stakes doubleheader on Sunday. Guest trainer Candi Cryderman will saddle Squan's Kingdom in the Washington Legislators Stakes. The Governor's Stakes includes Papa's Golden Boy, Baja Sur, Windribbon and Unmachable. Marketing Manager Wes Petree tells the story behind EmD's outstanding new live-race graphics. Plus...

The first three-day week of racing is on tap at Emerald Downs. Wednesday and Thursday night at 6 pm and Saturday, July 3, at 6 pm. Last season's Horse of the Meeting, Dutton, is in action Wednesday night in race 7, part of an outstanding card that includes the meet's first two-year-old races. Guests include breeder-owner Petra Lewin and handicapper John Lindley. Fireworks are back at Emerald Downs...

Fans back in force at Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 20, for Father's Day and EmD's 25th birthday celebration ceremony. The season's first four takes races are recapped, too. Papa's Golden Boy became the first 2021 Washington-bred stakes winner with his triumph over Baja Sur in the Budweiser. No racing at Emerald Downs this Sunday, June 27, due to projected 100+ degree temperatures in western Washi...

Happy Birthday Emerald Downs! This Sunday, June 20, is the track's 25th birthday with a public ceremony leading up to the first race at 2:30. Hear reminisces about the track's first opening day in 1996. Jackpot Pick-6 wager growing ... carryover into Wednesday night racing is $39,492. Stakes races begin this week with two Thursday night and two Sunday. Guests include historian and handicapper Jon...

Horse Racing NW reviews and previews racing at Emerald Downs, entering week #4 of the current season. Get the latest on upcoming races, promotions and special events. Father's Day, June 20, is the track's 25th birthday as well as the first Sunday on the schedule. Get your tickets at emeralddowns.com. Guests this week include EmD trainers Joe Toye and Bob Bean. Toye is off to a 7/15 start, includin...

Guests include Anthony "Big A" Stabile, of NYRA, Vegas Insider and Horse Racing Radio Network fame. Those of us in the Emerald Downs circles know him well from his prowess picking winners on "The Win Place Show" for many years and recently on "Horse Racing NW" podcast. Also, Scott Hanson, turf writer and do-everything for the Seattle Times sports department. He's covered EmD closely and has a 25-y...