Emerald Downs is open seven days a week for full card simulcasting. Follow many of the top horses and trainers from our 2025 meeting at Turf Paradise, whose schedule includes Monday and Tuesday racing. Many other tracks in operation include Del Mar, Aqueduct and Churchill Downs with Tampa and Fair Grounds opening this week. 2026 Emerald Downs racing dates are official – May 2 to September 7. Vince goes over the all the details .

This week’s guests include Delta Downs Track Announcer and Handicapper Don Stevens, who speaks to Delta’s upcoming, all-wager 10% takeout days. Those wagers are effective next Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25-26, first race 10:55 am EmD time. There’s also Joe Nevills, Bloodstock Editor for the Paulick Report. Nevills is a Thoroughbred fan from his young days in Michigan and he enthusiastically goes over some under-the-radar sires and previews his “All Value Sire Team,” reports coming on December 1.

It's Breeders’ Cup weekend! Catch the action on Emerald Downs 5th floor, with various seating options, tv screens and wagering windows. Seating is first-come, first-served both Friday and Saturday. Gates open 8:30 am on Friday, 8:00 on Saturday. Free parking and free admission for simulcasting and also for the Holiday Gift Fest, Saturday and Sunday, November 8-9. 10-4 each day. Get your Christmas shopping done early! Bring a non-perishable item to support the Auburn Food Bank.

Jon White and Anthony Stabile are Joe and Vince’s traditional Breeders’ Cup handicapping guests and they’re back on this week’s podcast. Get some great info from two of the top ‘cappers available (and maybe a story or two, too!).

Tom Wenzel and Dan Jukich join Joe and Vince on the pod. Trainer Wenzel had a monumental closing day and 2025 season. He won three stakes on the card (for the second time at the meeting) Sept. 7, tying Doris Harwood for most stakes wins in track history at 67. Jukich, Track Announcer and Publicist, goes over Hastings events and their final two days of racing. Emerald Downs Fifth Floor is open seven days a week for full card simulcasting. Great racing this fall from California, New York, Kentucky and elsewhere. You’ll many local horses and horseman in action when Turf Paradise begins on Monday, November 10.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner and so is Emerald Downs Holiday Gift Fest! Be at the track on Saturday and Sunday, November 8-9, 10 am to 4 pm. Outstanding gift ideas and holiday shopping is the fare. Free admission for all and a few spots for vendors remain. Also, if you’re planning a holiday party, EmD should be considered. Contact Group Sales at 253-288-7700.

Emerald Downs just closed a very successful 2025 season! Track President Phil Ziegler joins Joe and Vince to go over the highlights. With the arrival of many northern California-based trainers this spring, field size was up nearly one horse per race, leading toward a large increase in handle. Ziegler’s stakes schedule and promotional ideas also led to an outstanding season with attendance. A look to the future, too.

Top northwest handicapper Jon Lindley also joins the show, giving his keen insight on 2025 events on the track. Emerald Downs remains open for full card simulcasting Wednesday through Sunday and goes to seven days a week in October. Joe doesn’t forget the popular Triva Question this time around!

Closing weekend for 2025 is upcoming at Emerald Downs! Four stakes on Sunday included in the first 12-race card in state history. Who’s this year’s Horse of the Meeting? Si That Tiger is the only two-time stakes winner to date but there are many chasers. Speaking of the chase … there are carryovers Friday night in the Pick-5, Jackpot Pick-6 and Pentafecta.

Oktoberfest is here Friday, Saturday and Sunday for fans! Wear Oktoberfest gear of any type for free admission. Sign up to try and win among the Stein Hold, Barrell Roll and Hammerschlagen. Prizes in those events all weekend. Former Seattle Supersonic James Donaldson is here for a book signing on Saturday and see top honors awarded in horse and human categories throughout Sunday’s card.

Hard to believe? The 2025 Emerald Downs season is winding down. But before it does, much more activity at and on the track to look forward to. This Saturday is another “Dollar Day,” with plenty of specials at concession stands while Sunday is Italian Day with bocce ball, Italian dancers, music, food, beverage and – the pizza eating contest. Closing day Sept. 7 and its four stakes races will offer plenty of end-of-the-meeting excitement.

This week’s guests on Horseracing NW include former Seattle Sonic and longtime NBA player James Donaldson, who’ll be signing his book “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” at Emerald Downs on Saturday, Sept. 6. Also Scott Hanson, Seattle Times horse racing writer, who’s features and Longacres Mile coverage have added interest to a sport he’s been passionate for since a young age. On the track Friday, there’s both Pick-5 and Jackpot Pick-6 carryovers.

Congratulations to Arrowthegreat, winner of last week’s Longacres Mile! The betting favorite came up the inside in the last quarter-mile to win going away over Clovisconnection, who was runner-up for the second consecutive year. This Sunday sees the return of the Owners’ Handicap with its conditions of five furlongs and “catch weights.” Past winners include Chinook Pass, Trooper Seven and Snipledo at Longacres and L.J. Express, Makors Mark and Starbird Road at EmD.

It's Wiener Dog Sunday at Emerald Downs and also “Dollar Days” each of the next two Saturdays. Guests this week on HRNW include: WTBOA President Dana Halvorson as he previews the August 26 yearling sale at the WTBOA Pavilion, just up the street from Emerald Downs; and The “Big A” Anthony Stabile with his look at Saratoga’s Travers card this Saturday.

It’s Mile Week at Emerald Downs! The race of the year is Sunday when 10 older runners go to post in the 90th running of the Longacres Mile. Great story lines abound as usual and right at the top is the only Washington-bred in the race, Slew’s Tiz Whiz, running in his fourth consecutive Mile. Morning-line favorite at 9/5, he has a 2022 victory in the big race as well as third-place finishes the past two years. Trainer Tom Wenzel and owner Brian Malarkey join Joe and Vince on the pod.

The final “Breakfast At the Wire,” is this Saturday, 8-10 am, rain or shine. Always great information at the show and free breakfast and coffee, too. This year’s class of the Washington Thoroughbred Hall of Fame has their ceremony Saturday at 1 pm. Each inductee – Paskey Dedomenico, Wasserman, El Dorado Farms and Mark Glatt - has a video presentation. Don’t forget the “Railbird Rally” Mile day morning, 11-12:30 in the Park area, north of the Paddock. Dean Mazzuca is your affable host!

Mile talk on “Horse Racing Northwest!” Mile winning trainers Grant Forster and Blaine Wright join Joe and Vince this week. Forster won the past two runnings, each time with Five Star General. Wright won the Mile in 2020 with Anothertwistafate and has four runner-ups in the top event, too. Wright will saddle at least one Mile runner this year, his eighth consecutive season with a Mile starter.

Join Joe and Vince for “Breakfast At the Wire,” at the track this Saturday from 8-10 am. There’s great guests on Track Level with the backdrop of morning training going on. Free breakfast and coffee with a suggested donation to the Prodigious Fund. Weather will be great, too. Sports Shorts, Selections and trivia, too on this week’s show.

“Breakfast at the Wire” is back for the next three Saturdays! Joe and Vince host the popular morning workout show, 8-10 am by the Paddock Grille. Guests include Track President Phil Ziegler and jockey Jennifer Whitaker. Along with prizes and trivia, there’s a complimentary breakfast, with a suggested donation of any size to the Prodigious Fund.

Guest on this week’s show is Ken Alhadeff, owner of 2023-24 Longacres Mile champion Five Star General. When local race fans recount the most dramatic Longacres Mile finish or top horse to compete in the race, several thoughts, especially in the Emerald Downs era, would go directly to Five Star General. Alhadeff joyfully recaps last year’s victory and gives an update on Five Star General’s new career as a stallion.