Emerald Downs 2011 stakes top $1.5 million | Horse Racing

A 29-race stakes schedule featuring five doubleheaders and the 76th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile, has been announced for the 2011 meeting at Emerald Downs.

February 10, 2011 8:19 pm

A 29-race stakes schedule featuring five doubleheaders and the 76th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile, has been announced for the 2011 meeting at Emerald Downs.

A total of $1,515,00 will be offered in stakes beginning with the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for older fillies and mares Sunday, May 15, and ending with the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity for 2 year olds on closing day, Sunday, Sept. 25.

Twenty-three stakes are scheduled on Sundays including the Longacres Mile/Emerald Distaff doubleheader on Sunday, Aug. 21.

Purses for overnight races, enhanced by a contribution from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, are expected to remain very close to the ones offered at the start of 2010.

“Our aim is to keep purse levels similar with last year,” Emerald Downs President Ron Crockett said. “This is very important for our horsemen, especially in this economy.”

And for the first time Emerald Downs, working in concert with the Washington Horsemen’s Benevolence & Protective Association, will be paying out $100 for unplaced starters on all overnight purses.

“Horsemen have been so supportive at the entry box over the years, so this is a logical extension of that partnership,” Emerald Downs Director of Marketing Adrian Buchan said. “The fact that we are able to give purse money to every starter is a positive way to kick off our 2011 meeting.”

One of the premiere middle-distance events on the West Coast and the centerpiece of the 82-day meeting, the Longacres Mile headlines an August calendar that features eight stakes worth $585,000 and will decide championships in virtually every division.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, 3-year-old fillies battle in the $65,000 Washington Oaks, and the sophomore colts take their turn in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Sunday, Aug. 14. Those events are both a 1 1/8 mile in distance and mirror a stakes schedule designed to develop champions with races at increasingly longer distances.

Washington Cup IX, six races for Washington-breds worth $215,000 in purses, is Sunday, Sept. 18, culminating with the $40,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic at a mile and one-sixteenth.

The $50,000 Seattle Handicap, formerly in the handicap division, is now for 3-year-old fillies, and the Governor’s Handicap has been moved from July to Sunday, May 22, and is the first stop for older horses en route to the Longacres Mile.

The 82-day season begins Friday, April 15, with racing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thursday racing is offered July 14 to Aug. 25, and Monday holiday racing is set for May 30, July 4 and Sept. 5.

2011 EMERALD DOWNS STAKES SCHEDULE

29 Stakes Total Gross: $1,515,000

  • Sun May 15 $50,000 Hastings Handicap (3&UP F&M) 6F
  • Sun May 22 $50,000 Governor’s Handicap (3&UP) 6.5F
  • Sun May 29 $50,000 Seattle Handicap (3YO F) 6.5F
  • Mon May 30 $50,000 Auburn Handicap (3YO C&G) 6.5F
  • Sun Jun 12 $50,000 WA State Legislators Stakes (3&UP F&M) 6.5F
  • Sun Jun 19 $50,000 Budweiser Handicap (3&UP) 1M
  • Sun Jun 26 $50,000 Irish Day Handicap (3YO F) 1M
  • Sun Jun 26 $50,000 Pepsi-Cola Handicap (3YO C&G) 1M
  • Mon Jul 4 $25,000 NWSS Knights Choice Stakes (2YO F) * 5.5F
  • Mon Jul 4 $25,000 NWSS Strong Ruler Stakes (2YO C&G) * 5.5F
  • Sat Jul 16 $50,000 Boeing Handicap (3&UP F&M) 1M
  • Sun Jul 17 $50,000 Washington’s Lottery Handicap (3YO F) 1 1/16M
  • Sun Jul 17 $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap (3YO C&G) 1 1/16M
  • Sun July 24 $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap (3&UP) 1 1/16M
  • Sun Aug 7 $50,000 Angie C Stakes (2YO F) * 6F
  • Sun Aug 7 $50,000 Premio Esmeralda (2YO C&G) * 6F
  • Sat Aug 13 $65,000 Washington Oaks (3YO F) 1 1/8M
  • Sun Aug 14 $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby (3YO) 1 1/8M
  • Sun Aug 21 $65,000 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M) 1 1/8M
  • Sun Aug 21 $200,000 Longacres Mile (GIII) (3&UP) 1M
  • Sat Aug 27 $40,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO C&G) 1M
  • Sun Aug 28 $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes (2YO F) 1M

    • WA Cup IX

  • Sun Sep 18 $35,000 Diane Kem Stakes (2YO F WA) 6.5F
  • Sun Sep 18 $35,000 Dennis Dodge Stakes (2YO C&G WA) 6.5F
  • Sun Sep 18 $35,000 John & Kitty Fletcher Stakes (3YO F WA) 1M
  • Sun Sep 18 $35,000 Chinook Pass Stakes (3YO C&G WA) 1M

    • vSun Sep 18 $35,000 Belle Roberts (3&UP F&M WA) 1 1/16M

  • Sun Sep 18 $40,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3&UP WA) 1 1/16M
  • Sun Sep 25 $65,000 Gottstein Futurity (2YO) * 1 1/16M

Denotes NORTHWEST RACE SERIES ($147,500)