Emerald Downs Releases 2022 Stakes Schedule

Emerald Downs has announced 21 stakes worth $1,245,000 in purses for its 2022 live racing season that begins Sunday, May 15. The track's signature race, the Longacres Mile (G3), has been boosted to $150,000 and anchors an Aug. 14 stakes quadruple-header also featuring the $75,000 Emerald Distaff, $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $75,000 Washington Oaks. The purse for the Mile is $50,000 larger than last year while the Distaff, Derby, and Oaks are all up $25,000 from 2021. The older horse division begins with the six-furlong $50,000 Budweiser Stakes on Sunday, June 26, followed by the 6 1/2-furlong $50,000 Governor's Stakes on Sunday, July 24, and the 87th running of the Longacres Mile. The stakes schedule features six stakes twin bills, along with two quadruple-headers, and a closing day triple-header on Sunday, Sept. 18, featuring the $70,000 Gottstein Futurity, the track's top race for 2-year-olds. The $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and $50,000 Auburn Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings kick off stakes action on Sunday, June 19. Seven stakes are offered for 2-year-olds—three apiece for colts and geldings and fillies—culminating with the Gottstein Futurity at a mile and one-sixteenth. Washington Cup features four stakes—$50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings and $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies on Sunday, Aug. 28; $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and $50,000 Washington Cup Filly & Mares on Sunday, Sept. 18. Both 2-year-old races are restricted to Washington-breds while the older horse events are open to both Washington and British Columbia-breds. Opening day for the 2022 season is Sunday, May 15. The 52-day meet concludes Sunday, Sept. 18.