Win Place Show

Tom Harris is back as Track Announcer at Emerald Downs! Harris, the always popular race caller, had the EmD job from 2018-21 and speaks to his long announcing history and return to Auburn. Jon White is also a guest, now as a new member in the Washington Thoroughbred Hall of Fame. White has worked in racing since 1974, the past 40+ in California, but has never forgotten his northwest roots. He’s been an ever-present contributor in the Emerald Downs era in radio, tv, internet and print. With morning training underway at Emerald Downs, the Quarter Chute Café is open Wednesday through Sunday until 2 pm. The 2024 season begins on Saturday, May 4. Emerald Downs 5th Floor is open seven days a week for full card simulcasting with the popular Quick Pix food and beverage stand open longer on Saturday and Sunday, until 6 pm.

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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.

Track President Phil Ziegler speaks to the upcoming Emerald Downs racing season, Opening Day scheduled for Saturday, May 4 (Kentucky Derby day). Ziegler, in his current position since the 2015 season, has overseen growth in many areas with innovative marketing ideas. Emerald Downs four-time leading trainer Jeff Metz is also a guest, he with a new position at Santa Anita. Sports Shorts and Trivia, too. Go to emeralddowns.com for a great deal! Get a Season Admission Pass for just $55. The Fifth Floor is open seven days a week with the popular Quick Pix Café open Wednesday through Sunday. Quick Pix weekend hours are 9 am to 6 pm.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays from Horseracing NW! On Saturday night December 23, the Fifth Floor will be filled with music by a tribute group to “the world’s greatest rock ‘n roll band,” the Rolling Stones. Get your tickets early at emeralddowns.com. Full card simulcasting continues, seven days a week at Emerald Downs. Many top tracks in action this winter plus Santa Anita and Golden Gate begin on Monday, Dec. 26. There’s a new sire at Pabst Blue Ribbon Farm in Buckley. His name is Alternation and he has racing and siring success from an outstanding resume. Washington Hall of Fame breeder Debbie Pabst joins the show and speaks to the new addition. Howard Hammer passed away in November at age 103. One of the most noteworthy members of the Washington logging industry for over 50 years and a Thoroughbred owner for as long, brother Jerry speaks to his life and accomplishments.

Happy Thanksgiving from Emerald Downs! The 5t Floor is open this Holiday and you can enjoy a full Turkey Day meal for just $17.50 at Quick Pix. A turkey dinner with all the fixins’ including dessert. Also, there's full card simulcasting from top tracks such as Laurel, Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds, Del Mar, Golden Gate and Woodbine. WHRC Commissioner Doug Moore joins Joe and Vince on Horseracing NW. Moore sorts out the regulatory bodies that govern racing and wagering in the U.S. HISA and HIWU came in during the 2022 year and their regulatory power affected the WHRC, ARCI, RMTC and Jockey Club’s previous positions of authority. Owner John Parker speaks to the passing of longtime trainer Bill Tollett.

Emerald Downs is ready for Breeders’ Cup simulcasting, this Friday and Saturday, November 3-4. Gates open on Friday at 8:30 am, Saturday at 8:00 am. The 5th floor is first come-first served as far as seating, so get here early. Watch and wager on the 40th running of the Breeders’ Cup, a truly world-wide competition consisting of 14 races over the two days. It’s free admission at Emerald Downs and there’s food specials both days at Quick Pix on floor 5 and on Saturday at Classics, floor 3. Joe and Vince are joined by “Horseracing NW” regular, EmD Track Announcer Bill Downes, and also Jon White and Anthony “Big A” Stabile. All offer angles, opinions and selections on the 14 races of full fields and live longshots. It’s all Breeders’ Cup talk on this edition.

The 40th Breeders’ Cup is just around the corner, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita. Seating on the Fifth Floor at Emerald Downs, each day, is first come-first served. Do the Cup in style this year. The 6th Floor Suites are available for a minimum $1,000, including amenities. Get your group together and call Emerald Downs Group Sales at 253-288-7700. Matt Dinerman’s first job as Track Announcer was at Emerald Downs, replacing Robert Geller in 2015. His aptitude was apparent from the beginning and in December, he’ll be leaving Golden Gate Fields to become the race caller at Oaklawn Park. He joins Joe and Vince on this week’s ‘cast as does Auburn native Mark Glatt. Glatt has become a highly prominent southern California-based trainer and has multiple horses headed toward the upcoming Breeders’ Cup.

Emerald Downs concluded the 2023 season on a high note last Sunday, September 17, and Joe and Vince recap the action that decided several season-ending honors including Slew’s Tiz Whiz earning his second consecutive Horse of the Meeting title. Thanks to all who made the year memorable – the fans and handicappers, the horsemen and their grooms, EmD staff and officials and, of course the horses! Trainer Tom Wenzel joins Joe and Vince and speaks to his great season that ended on a very high note. Closing day, Slew’s Tiz Whiz took the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and Miner League won the Gottstein Futurity. Wenzel tied a record in earning his third consecutive Gottstein, all for owner George Todaro. Bill McMeans won three straight Gottsteins at Longacres, 1970-72. Wenzel had seven stakes wins to lead all trainers. EmD open seven days a week for full card simulcasting.

It’s Closing weekend at Emerald Downs this Saturday and Sunday, September 16-17. The season that began on May 6 concludes early Sunday evening after an 11-race card that will decide many honorees among horse and human participants. Categories in the balance are Horse of the Meeting, Older Filly/Mare, both Juvenile sex divisions and Top Washington-bred. The three stakes on Sunday – Washington Cup Filly and Mare, Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and Gottstein Futurity will decide many honors. Joining Joe, Vince and Bill are top handicapper John Lindley and jockey agent David “Marbles” Singer. Lindley, the handicapper of “Parker’s” tip sheet and the author of emeralddowns.com’s “Trip Notes,” has had another successful year. His knowledge, experience, recall and attention to detail has led him to success year-in, year-out from Longacres days forward. Singer made book for the leading rider again this year, Alex Cruz. It’s the ninth consecutive season he’s done that at EmD. He also agented for runner-up Luis Negron and fourth in the standings Kevin Radke.

Fan Appreciation Day this Sunday! Free admission for all on Sunday Sept. 10 at Emerald Downs. Add to that, numerous food and beverage specials at concession stands and bars. Racing Saturday, too, starting at 5 pm. That’s also the schedule for closing week, Sept. 16-17 – 5 pm Saturday and 2 pm Sunday. Trainer Blaine Wright and Turf Writer Paul Beattie join Joe, Vince and Bill this week on the podcast. Wright has several promising juveniles and, of course, top three-year-olds in Clovisconnection (two stakes wins) and Prince Abu Dhabi (Muckleshoot Derby winner). Wright has much to look forward to toward the end of this season and in 2024. One can follow Beattie’s comprehensive coverage of EmD at elisportsnetwork.com.