It’s just over two weeks until Opening Day for the 2026 Emerald Downs meeting! It’ll be a festive May 2, as that is also Kentucky Derby Saturday. First race 1:50 pm. “Training Day,” available to view late Thursday afternoons, is once again a weekly feature at the Emerald Downs YouTube channel. More info at emeralddowns.com.

Joining Joe and Vince is trainer Robert Gilker, stabled here for 2026 due to Hastings not opening in Vancouver B.C. Gilker won the Longacres Mile with Herbie D in 2013 and has traveled and won from his Hastings base for several decades now. Also, Grant Holcomb, who began working in the Thoroughbred industry in 1970 and served as Director of Racing at Longacres, Yakima Meadows and Emerald Downs. He speaks to the passing of fellow employee and friend Bob Coble.