Horse Racing NW

Free admission at Emerald Downs for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup! Gates open at 7:30 am both Friday and Saturday for the 43rd Breeders’ Cup, this year from Keeneland. Find your favorite spot on the Fifth Floor at Emerald Downs, seating is first come, first served. The Advance wagering is available at Emerald Downs on Thursday for Friday’s races and on Friday for Saturday’s races. The first Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool closes this Friday at 1 pm, before the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile is run later that day.

Horseracing NW is filled with great Breeders’ Cup handicapping info and selections from guests Jon White and “The Big A,” Anthony Stabile. Plus segments from Robert Geller and Matt Carothers. Enjoy the info and good luck in the Breeders’ Cup!

Guests this week include a reminiscence from Matt Carothers, TVG-Fan Duel talent and handicapper since that network’s inception in 1999. And, Dana Halvorson, friend and business associate of El Dorado Farms’ Ron Hagen, who passed on Sept. 12. Halvorson presided over Hagen’s memorial service on Sept. 30. Full card simulcasting this fall and winter, we’re open seven days a week on the Fifth Floor. There’s full-service Thursday through Sunday while it’s self-serve on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Emerald Downs and PNW Country Nights have a country-themed, music filled weekend upcoming! There’s music from 5-10 pm this Friday and Saturday is full country from 11 am on with food, shopping, line dancing, mechanical bull, artists and, of course, more live music into the evening. Tickets start at $10, go to emeralddowns.com.

We’re in “off-season” mode at Emerald Downs but plenty to talk about in our world of Thoroughbred racing. Joe and Vince recap the top highlights of the 2026 Emerald Downs season, many of those involving the team of owner Dr. George Todaro, trainer Tom Wenzel and stable manager Bob Cappelletti. They concluded an incredible meeting on closing Sunday, Sept 6, with three stakes wins. Cappelletti joins the podcast as does “The Big A,” Anthony Stabile, on the opening of the new Belmont Park Friday.

Join us any day you wish for full card simulcasting, we’re open seven days a week on the Fifth Floor. There’s full service Thursday through Sunday while it’s self-serve on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Keep in mind EmD’s Group Events department for your holiday party. Call 253-288-7700 to book your event.

It’s closing weekend at Emerald Downs! First race goes at 1:50 all three days – Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Great action on the track all weekend long, especially Sunday, with four stakes scheduled and season honors on the line. Top horses Aloha Breeze, Adios Jojo, Mattie Goincoastal, Robin Racer and Slew’s Tiz Whiz are all in action. It’s “Oktoberfest” for fans, all three days. The traditional, free-to-enter contests such as the Stein Hold and Keg Roll are back. Enjoy it all!

Guests this week include top northwest handicapper John Lindley, whose “Parkers” tip sheet is a great race-day addition for horseplayers of all levels. Lindley has more interest than usual in the races this weekend with his one-for-one juvenile colt Bolt Action Beau entered in Sunday’s Gottstein Futurity. Dave and Brenda Sizer are the proud owners of wiener dog Mary Poopins. Google “Emerald Downs Mary Poopins” and you’ll find a touching, viral video.

Join us at Emerald Downs for the final two weekends of the season! The Mile may be over but great racing and fun for fans await this Saturday/Sunday and closing weekend, Sept. 5-6-7. Saturdays are “Super Saturdays” with numerous food & beverage specials including $1 Hot Dogs and $1 Sodas on August 29. Sunday is Italian Day with all the fun and flavor that goes with it, including the Sorelli Pizza Eating Contest.

Joining Joe and Vince this week are Longacres Mile winning trainer Howard Gibson and 15-year Major Leaguer Jayson Werth. Werth immediately delved into Thoroughbred racing after retirement from baseball and is part-owner of Tiger Lady with Greg Conley’s group in Saturday’s ninth race. On the track, the $30k Owner’s Handicap at five furlongs is Sunday’s feature, with four-time EmD sprint stakes winner Si That Tiger heading the field. Leading trainer Gibson has both Knightline and Coastal Jazz in the Owner’s.

The Longacres Mile is memorable most every year – add the 2026 running to that list! With Adios Jojo being moved up to first after the disqualification of Touchy last Sunday, a local horse, a longshot and new names were added to the list of winners in the historic race. 32-1 Adios Jojo got a great ride from jockey Kevin Orozco and he joins Joe and Vince on this week’s Mile recap show. There was another stakes victory by Aloha Breeze and other top races covered, too.

Sunday brings those that started the canine craze at Emerald Downs – it’s Wiener Dog racing this Sunday. Wear your “Fab Friday” Hawaiian shirt to the races on Saturdays this month for free admission. Those great Friday concession specials and Lucky One Lemonade Horseshoe Toss move to Saturday, too. See you at Emerald Downs!

Championship Sunday is this weekend at Emerald Downs! Topped by the 91st running of the Longacres Mile, this Saturday and Sunday are the ultimate two days for northwest racing fans and historians. Legendary status is on the line Sunday when eight horses go postward at 5:50 for the Mile. Slew’s Tiz Whiz, 2022 champion, is third choice on morning-line odds (4-1) behind Wesley Ward-trained invader Touchy (7/5) and top sprinter Si That Tiger (2-1). Join us Saturday at 1:00 pm outside of the Winner’s Circle for the 2026 Washington Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Video presentations for Mark Kaufman, Reba Is Tops, Maxwell G and Doug Moore take viewers down the road of this state’s racing history.

Saturday morning at Paddock Grille, join Joe & Vince for “Breakfast At the Wire,” 9-10:30 am. It’s free to attend with guests, raffle prizes and a complimentary breakfast item and coffee for all who attend. Wear your “Fab Friday” Hawaiian shirt to the races on Saturdays this month for free admission. The great Friday concession specials and Lucky One Lemonade Horseshoe Toss move to Saturday, too. Sunday at 12 noon in the Park, our Mile Day tradition of the “Railbird Rally” brings fans together with handicapping, prizes and food and beverage specials. See you at Emerald Downs!

Emerald Downs live racing calendar moves to Saturdays and Sundays in August – with many noteworthy events! Before live racing this Saturday at 1:50 pm, join Joe & Vince at “Breakfast At the Wire,” from 9-10:30 am. It’s free to attend with guests, raffle prizes and a complimentary breakfast item and coffee for all who attend. Wear your “Fab Friday” Hawaiian shirt to the races on Saturdays for free admission. The great Friday concession specials and Lucky One Lemonade Horseshoe Toss move to Saturday, too.

Washington Hall of Famers join Joe and Vince on this week’s show. Debbie Pabst is prepping a large number of yearling sons and daughters of farm sire Alternation for the Tuesday, August 25, WTBOA Yearling Sale. Wesley Ward, known world-wide for his many Keeneland training titles and his breakthrough victories at Royal Ascot, is sending Touchy to Washington for the Longacres Mile. He speaks to his colt and the storied race history.

Next month brings Championship Sunday and the Longacres Mile to Emerald Downs on Sunday, August 16. Join us early for “Breakfast At the Wire” on Saturday, August 8 & 15, 9-10:30 am. The Washington Thoroughbred Hall of Fame induction ceremony is Saturday, August 15, before the races and there’s the Railbird Rally on Mile Day, August 16. Go to emeralddowns.com and follow us on Facebook for all upcoming special events and promotions.

Guests this week include Bob Rondeau and Dana Halvorson. Rondeau speaks to his friendship and the career of Mark Kaufman, former Longacres Publicity Director, who’s a Hall of Fame inductee on August 15. President Dana Halvorson gives facts and figures of the August 25 WTBOA Yearling Sale and new Pabst Blue Ribbon Farm stallion Alternation with 18 sons or daughters in the catalog.

Looking forward to a Super Stakes Sunday at Emerald Downs! This Sunday, July 19, come out for an 11-race card that includes six stakes. In the marquee race, four weeks before the Longacres Mile, Slew’s Tiz Whiz goes for an amazing fifth straight Governor’s Stakes title. He meets crack sprinters Tax Code and Si That Tiger among the seven entries. The track’s leading active stakes winner, Aloha Breeze, seeks her third consecutive Washington State Legislators Stakes score. She’s won eight local stakes, one more than Tom Wenzel-trained stablemate Slew’s Tiz Whiz.

It’s Equine Art 2026 week and all art is on display on Track Level through racing on Sunday. All pieces, in many different art disciplines, are available for purchase. Anne Sweet of the Equine Art committee joins Joe and Vince on this week's pod as does Mike Seely of Daily Racing Form. Seely speaks to his upcoming columns and previews Sunday’s stakes action. Go to emeralddowns.com for more information.