Emerald Downs boosts purse for Longacres Mile, 3 other stakes

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 $50,000 Budweiser Stakes (six furlongs) on Sunday, June 26, followed by the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes (6 1/2 furlongs) 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 – climaxing with the Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles.

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 Fillies & 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.

In addition to 21 Thoroughbred stakes, Emerald Downs offers two stakes races for quarter horses – $30,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship for 2-year-olds at 350 yards and the 12th running of the $40,000 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards.

The 52-day meet concludes Sunday, Sept. 18.