8/14/2025

(Auburn, WA) Emerald downs officials have opted to cancel Friday night’s races (August 15) due to the expected significant rainfall. Weather forecasters are expecting up to an inch of rain in a short period of time and potentially right before or during the Friday night card. Track VP Jack Hodge says the track crew was concerned if the amount of rain falls as forecast, it would be difficult to try and clear that amount of water and keep the surface as safe as possible.

Hodge also says they don’t want to start a race card and then have to call it off in the middle of it but the main issue is caution and safety.  The forecast is for the heavy rain to fall Friday with an 80% chance of rain at 4pm moving up to 99% chance by 7pm, which is the scheduled 1st race post time. Rain chance then goes to 100% until about 11pm Friday night. 

The system is supposed to then move through and the rain chance begins to drop and by 4am Saturday morning it’s down to 20% chance of showers. It drops further for the rest of the day to between 10% and 15%. This will give the track crew time to prepare the track for racing on Saturday and by the time for the 1st race post time at 2pm the rain chance will be 10% or lower. 

Track President Phil Ziegler added, “We are expecting very heavy rain Friday, and safety comes first.” “Fortunately, Saturday and Sunday look great with temperatures in the 70s.”

Sunday’s card features six stakes races including the 90th edition of the $125,000 Longacres Mile with Saturday’s program highlighted by two quarter horse stakes and the annual Washington Racing Hall of Fame ceremony.

To make up for Friday’s cancellation, Emerald Downs is planning extra races Friday, Aug. 22 and Saturday, Aug. 23.

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