Winter and full card simulcasting at Emerald Downs go to together! The Fifth Floor is open seven days a week and tracks such as Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Laurel, Tampa Bay, Fair Grounds, Oaklawn, Santa Anita, Golden Gate, Turf Paradise and Turfway Park offer top action and big weekend stakes. The popular Quick Pix café is open 9 am to 6 pm on weekends.

In the Thoroughbred world, breeding and foaling season have begun and Nina Hagen of El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw joins the show. Hagen, despite some serious health issues, sounds like her ever-energetic and enthusiastic self. With husband Ron, they stand Washington’s top living sire, Coast Guard, and Barkley has his first crop of two-year-olds this year. Roy Brewer guests as well. He is working on the Feb. 24 WTBOA Awards Banquet and also speaks to two-time defending Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting Slew’s Tiz Whiz.