Emerald Downs – The Inside Track

by Vince Bruun, Emerald Downs Director of Media Relations

We are excited to welcome back fans for the 2021 racing season! The health and safety of our fans, employees and racing industry participants is and always will be our top priority!

You are strongly encouraged to prepurchase tickets online. Tickets will be available at the gates only if availability remains. Daily attendance is limited as per protocols in place for spectator sports in Washington. A day at the track will look and feel different in 2021 but the thrills and fun of live horse racing will be the same as always! Please read over all race day information before purchasing tickets.

Emerald Downs follows all guidelines and protocols in the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery plan.

Face Masks: Required at all times for fans ages two and older, except when actively drinking or eating while seated. Masks are not permitted to be removed at any time while standing or walking throughout the track.

Adult Ticket Prices: The $10 per person ticket now includes general admission and a race program. This is a $2 savings from previous years. The $13 per person ticket includes general admission, a race program, and a reserved grandstand seat. Reserved seats will be socially spaced between groups.

Children Tickets: The price per ticket for children ages 12 and under is $5. ($8 includes a reserved seat.)

Parking: Both free general parking and paid preferred parking will be available. There will be no valet parking service this season.

Admission Policies: No outside food or beverages permitted with the exception of a sealed 32-ounce (or smaller) bottle of water per person.

Seating: General admission bench and table seating is available throughout the track. All seating will be clearly marked to ensure six-foot separation between groups. For reserved grandstand seats, social distancing protocols have been built into the ticketing system.

Smoking: There is no smoking in any public areas of the track.

Food and Beverage Concessions: All bars and concessions are cashless with the exception of Quick Pix on Floor 5. If you do not have a debit or credit card you may purchase a gift card at Customer Service on track level or Floor 5. You may also use Apple or Google Pay. Menus will be streamlined with food packaged and ready to expedite your time at the concession stands.

Wagering: A greater percentage of wagering machines will be self-service. Please follow the fl oor markers to maintain social distancing while waiting to bet. Contactless wagering is available using betemerald.com while at the track. See customer service for details.

Racing Forms: Forms and simulcast programs will be sold at Customer Service.

Gift Shop: The Gift Shop is currently closed. 5th Floor Dining Tables: A limited number of Rainier dining tables will be open on Floor 5. Each table has a television monitor. These will be first come, first served on each race day. There will be no

Q. How many fans can attend a day at the races?

A. Emerald Downs attendance is limited to 25 percent and is dependent on King County being in Phase 2 or 3 of the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery plan.

Q. Why is now an admission charge for children?

A. With limitations on attendance, we need to account for everyone who attends the races.

Q. Will you be having July 3 Fireworks and other popular promotions?

A. No promotions are scheduled at this time, but we are hoping to add them as the season progresses. July 3 Fireworks, Corgi Races, Family Days, and Indian Relay Racing are all being considered.

Q. Will you have any offers on Groupon?

A. Dependent on availability we may offer a limited amount of daily general admission tickets on Groupon.

Q. Where can I sit with my general admission ticket?

A. Our benches will be clearly marked and blocked off in areas to maintain social distancing. Picnic tables will also be available.

Q. Can I watch the horses in the paddock?

A. Some high congregation locations near the paddock and winner’s circle will be blocked off but there are many places you can safely stand with views of these areas.

Q. I always brought food to the track. Why can I no longer do that?

A. As most fans arrive around the same time, we are doing our best to speed up the entry process, limit contact, and do it safely. This will also help us keep the track clean and sanitized. (Plus, we sell great food!)

Q. Will you have an area for people to smoke?

A. Until further notice there will be no smoking in any public areas of the track. Masks are required to be worn at all times except while actively eating or drinking while seated.

Q. Will you consider adding more weekend race days?

A. If restrictions are lifted as the season progresses, we will consider making changes to our schedule. Currently we have Sunday racing beginning on June 20.

2020 Emerald Downs horse of the meet Dutton will return to the track in hopes of continuing his unbeaten streak at three.

Palmer Photography

dining service. You may order food and beverages at Quick Pix and bring them to your table.

Box Seats: Boxes will be sold by calling customer service at (253) 288-7711. As only a limited number of boxes are available, priority will be given to 2019 box seat holders. Box Seats are available on Floors 3 and 5.

Suites: There are four suites available each race day. Please call the track at (253) 288-7000 if you are interested. Windows must remain open in all suites and occupancy is limited to 25 percent.

Horsemen: Horsemen will be provided a season pass which can be picked up at will call. The pass will allow general admission entry for you plus one guest each day of the season. Passes are non-transferrable, and you must show your current WHRC license for entry.

Simulcasting: Watch and wager on tracks from coast to coast every Wednesday through Sunday on Floor 5. Admission is free except during live racing hours. On race days we begin charging admission three hours prior to the fi rst live race of the day.

Screenings: Fans are not required to undergo temperature checks or other health screenings except to access Floors 5 and 6. Please stay home if you are not feeling well or have been exposed to COVID-19.

Emerald Downs has announced 21 stakes worth $1,090,000 in purses for its 2021 live race meet that begins on Wednesday, May 19.

The schedule features 19 Thoroughbred stakes and $1,020,000 in purses, beginning with the $50,000 Hastings Stakes for three-year-old andup fi llies and mares on Thursday, June 17, and fi nishing with the $70,000 Gottstein Futurity for two-year-olds on closing day, Thursday, September 23.

The 86th renewal of the $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3) will be run on Sunday, August 15, anchoring a stakes doubleheader with the $50,000 Emerald Distaff for older fi llies and mares.

The 2021 stakes schedule features seven double-headers, along with a triple-header and a quadruple-header.

On Sunday, August 22, two-year-olds meet in the $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for colts and geldings and $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes for fillies, and older Quarter Horses meet in the $40,000 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge and juveniles square off in the $30,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship.

In addition to the Gottstein Futurity, September 23 features two Washington Cup races, the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for older horses and the $50,000 Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes.

Thur., June 17 Hastings Stakes Thur., June 17 Budweiser Stakes Sun., June 20 Seattle Stakes Sun., June 20 Auburn Stakes 3YO & Up F&M 6 F $50,000 3YO & Up 6 F $50,000 3YO F 6 F $50,000 3YO C&G 6 F $50,000

Sun., July 11 Governor’s Stakes Sun., July 11 Washington State Legislators Stakes Sun., July 18 Angie C. Stakes Sun., July 18 King County Express Sun., July 25 Kent Stakes Sun., July 25 Irish Day Stakes Sun., August 15 Longacres Mile (G3) 3YO & Up 6 1/2 F $50,000 3YO & Up F&M 6 1/2 F $50,000 2YO F 5 1/2 F $50,000 * 2YO C&G 5 1/2 F $50,000 * 3YO F 6 1/2 F $50,000 3YO C&G 6 1/2 F $50,000 3YO & Up 1 M $100,000

Sun., August 15 Emerald Distaff Sun., August 22 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes

3YO & Up F&M 1 1/16 M $50,000 2YO F 6 1/2 F $50,000 * Sun., August 22 WTBOA Lads Stakes 2YO C&G 6 1/2 F $50,000 * Sun., August 22 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge 3YO & Up QH 440 Y $40,000 Sun., August 22 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship 2YO QH 350 Y $30,000 Sun., August 29 Muckshoot Derby 3YO 1 1/16 M $50,000 Sun., August 29 Washington Oaks 3YO F 1 1/16 M $50,000 Thur., September 23 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic 3YO & Up** 1 1/16 M $50,000 Thur., September 23 Washington Cup Filly & Mare Stakes 3YO & Up F&M** 1 1/16 M $50,000 Thur., September 23 Gottstein Futurity 2YO 1 1/16 M $70,000 ‡

AMONG THE STARS, by Harbor the Gold. B. f. by Gold Rush Dancer. 3/3. Owned by John Parker. Mare returned to Conveyance.

PRIVATE FORTUNE, by Private Gold. B. c. by Atta Boy Roy. 2/23. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst. Mare returned to Tamarkuz. ARLINGTON LADY, by Nationhood. B. f. by Atta Boy Roy, 2/3. Owned by Robert Donnell. Mare returned to Barkley.

ATTA GAL VAL, by Atta Boy Roy. B. f. by Curlin to Mischief. 2/2. Owned by Griffin Place LLC. Mare returned to Conveyance.

FOLLOW YOUR SHOT, by Sir Cat. Dk. b./br. f. by Algorithms, 2/19. Owned by Pat and Mullan Chinn and Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst. Mare returned to Conveyance.

DURANGA, by Bellamy Road. B. c. by Harbor the Gold. 3/2. Owned by Richard Caswell. Mare returned to Smiling Tiger,

GREAT MOM, by Pioneerof the Nile. B. f. by Tale of Ekati. 2/25. Owned by Connie Belshay, Only Me Thoroughbreds. Mare returned to Conveyance. EMERALDCITY KITTEN, by Kitten’s Joy. B. c. by Gold Aly. 3/15. Owned by Steve Meredith. Mare return TBD.

NINA NICOLE, by Touch Gold. B. f. by Dontmesswithkitten. 3/24. Owned by Steve Meredith. Mare returned to Dontmesswtihkitten.

FIND YOUR SPOT, by Nationhood. Gr./ro. f. by Race Day. 2/20. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst. Mare returned to Coast Guard. COURTROOM CHARMER, by Tribunal. B. c. by Tapizar. Owned by Ron Crockett Inc. and Griffi n Place LLC. Mare returned to Harbor the Gold.