6/30/2026

(Auburn, WA) The Washington State Horse Racing commission adopted a request from Emerald Downs management to cut 4 Friday nights of racing in August. The request came from track President Phil Ziegler who said the horse population is down 32% from last year where they averaged more than 7 horses per race. 

This year it’s barely above 6 and have already run races 56 times with 5 or less runners. Ziegler presented the commission and large presence of horse people with the hard numbers that included handle numbers that are far below from last year, the number of starters per race and the fact they have already run 12 fewer races at this point than they did last year, which equals a day and a half.

Ziegler told the crowd he isn’t sure if cutting the days is going to help the overall product but they need to do something to try and turn this around for this season. 

The philosophy of cutting Friday nights is to try and create two good days of race cards over 3 days of fair at best race cards. They will offer 11 races on both Saturday and Sunday and can offer more if possible. Ziegler said it’s not about cutting 5 horse fields but mixing them in with more races of 7 or more to tilt the betting options that favor more bettors to try and stimulate the handle. 

Ziegler said, “with an 11 race card if we have three races of 5-horse fields we can run them earlier in the card where the betting is always lighter than the later races. This allows us to continue to run the shorter fields but still have good betting races for the pick 5 and pick 6, Super High 5 and all the basic bets.”

Ziegler then used the June 21 card as an example where there were 10 races on the first Super Stakes Sunday and the handle was just short of 2.5 million. Compared to the Sunday before on the 14th where 8 races were run and a little more than 1-million was bet. The difference was double per race with $250,000 per race on the 21st and just $126,000 per race on the 14th.

Ziegler said no purse money is being cut and it will all get paid out regardless of how the rest of the season goes. But they need more days like the 21st and fewer than the 14th. His belief is going to 2 days will help relieve the pressure of trying to fill 3 days. Ziegler said he is frankly concerned about the remaining Fridays in July. “The last thing we want to do is cancel a card because we don’t have enough horses. That would be terrible,” Ziegler said. 

Right now Emerald is averaging 23 races a week and under the 2 day format thanks to a change in state law last year they can run more than 11 races a day and Ziegler said they will card 12 a day if they can. He believes in the end they will not be short of the 24-28 races those 4 Fridays would have had and if they are the purse money will all still be paid.

It was also pointed out that racing less than 6 races is not allowed under state law with 6 as the minimum. Emerald has raced multiple 6 race cards this season.

Several trainers all testified with some not pleased with the decision, others wanted days added to the end of meet and others were concerned that the horse population is not being used to it’s potential.

Trainer Kay Cooper said she had several horses that she has not been able to get to the track because there were no races available and believes there are more horses stuck without a place to run.

Trainer Blaine Wright joined the discussion via zoom from Southern California and asked the former track President and current consultant for Emerald Downs, Ron Crockett, his thoughts on the proposal.

Crockett was in attendance and had not planned on speaking but when asked he obliged and talked for nearly 20 minutes. Crockett revealed many things he has been working on to try and help the industry including a meeting he and Commission Chair Doug Moore had with Governor Ferguson.

He acknowledged the hurt and stress the horsemen are under but also pleaded for the industry to rally together and try to make this a positive. Crockett talked about what it took to build the track and replace not only an industry but a lifestyle for so many people in the NW. Crockett talked about how and why he needed to sell and why the Muckleshoot tribe was the one he trusted the most to continue the Northwest racing legacy.

He urged everyone to come together and finish this season on a positive note and then start to work on some of the things that need attention. From the race office needing more help to helping the Muckleshoots get the federal Trust land designation to working with lawmakers in Olympia including another meeting he is going to have with Governor Ferguson in mid-July.

Commission Chair Moore then wrapped up the 90+ minute meeting as he and commissioner’s Dr Claude Ragle and Robert Lopez voted on whether or not to allow Emerald Downs to cancel the 4 Friday night race cards in August. Lopez made the motion and Ragle seconded it. The vote was 3-0 to approve the request.

Beginning in August Emerald will race only on Saturdays and Sundays and offer a minimum of 11 races per day and hoping they will be able to fill all of those races and potentially more. 

Ziegler also added that the season long promotions on Friday nights including free admission for wearing the Fabulous Friday shirt given away on the 1st Friday night back in June and the $1,000 horseshoe toss will both be moved to Saturdays. So if you wear your Hawaiian Fab Friday shirt on Saturdays in August you will get free admission.

If you would like to watch the full commission meeting you can do so by clicking this link.

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