Emerald Downs date request approved for 2018
At the November 9, 2018 regularly scheduled meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission the commissioners approved Emerald Racing LLC's request for dates for the 2019 racing season. Emerald Downs will once again offer sixty-seven days of live racing starting with opening day on Saturday, April 20th and going through closing day on Sunday, September 22nd.
Opening day, April 20, is the lone racing day Easter weekend, followed by Saturday/Sunday racing April 27-28 and May 4-5. Friday racing begins May 10 and continues the remaining 20 weeks of the season. Post times also remain the same as last season: 2:00 pm Sundays, 6:30 pm Fridays, and either 2:00 pm or 5:00 pm Saturdays. The first eight Saturdays, April 20 thru June 8, feature a 2 o’clock post and the final 15 Saturdays, June 15 thru September 21, feature a 5 o’clock post. Live racing will be offered on Memorial Day, May 27th with a 2:00 pm post. The annual Fireworks Spectacular on Wednesday, July 3, also begins with live racing at 5:00 pm. The 84th Longacres Mile (G3) will be run Sunday, August 11, with the complete 2019 stakes schedule released in January. Emerald Downs concludes 2018 live meet
Sippin Fire earned multiple year-end honors including 2018 Horse of the Meeting, Top 3-Year-Old Horse, and Top Washington Bred
The 2018 Emerald Downs race meet came to a conclusion on September 23rd. The 2018 handle during the live race meet from April 22nd through September 23rd was down $5,135,753.00, a decrease of 11.67% from 2017. The decrease can be attributed to the loss of five days of live racing which was reduced to 67 days, encompassing 155 total wagering days, as compared to last year's 72 live days and 170 total wagering days.
Another comparison to review is the entire race year, September 25, 2017 through September 23, 2018 where the total handle for Washington State residents decreased by $4,936,754.60 from the previous race year. The shift of the wagering continues to move towards the Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) format. In reviewing the handle derived from ADW's it shows an increase of $6,276,418.37 for the comparable time frame, which resulted in a total increase in pari-mutuel handle in the state. It is important to understand that the percentage of the wagering dollars that is returned to the industry through Advance Deposit Wagering is significantly less than that of wagers placed at an Off Track Betting site or at Emerald Downs itself. This results in less revenue returned to the industry for purses to the horsemen and women and operational expenses for the racing association and racing commission. Horse of the meeting, top 3-year-old horse, and top Washington Bred honors went to Sippin Fire, who won four stakes during the meet and earned $115,425. Sippin Fire is owned by stable How We Roll #4 and he is trained by Steve Bullock. Leading trainer honors went to Jeff Metz, who earned his fourth training title at Emerald Downs, winning 43 races. The leading owner in 2018 was a tie between John Parker and Saratoga West, with 17 wins apiece. Leading rider honors went to Rocco Bowen who finished the season with 109 winners becoming the first jockey to win three straight titles at Emerald Downs. Other year-end honors went to jockey Lorenzo Lopez, winner of the Lindy Award presented for his accomplishments and sportsmanship during the year, while trainer Vince Gibson received the Martin Durkan award for his leadership, cooperation, sportsmanship and excellence on and off the track. |
Rulemaking Notification List
Any person who wishes to receive notification about WHRC rulemaking activities can be added to the stakeholder list. Requests to be added to the stakeholder list may be made by email at whrc@whrc.state.wa.us, by telephone at 360-459-6462, by fax at 360-459-6461, or by mail at 6326 Martin Way, Suite 209, Olympia, WA 98516-5578.
WHRC Publishes Withdrawal Time Recommendations for 2018
The WHRC has published updated drug withdrawal time recommendations for therapeutic medications with listed thresholds for 2018. The information on drug withdrawal times does not constitute and is not a warranty, guarantee, assurance, undertaking or anything similar that the results of the use of any of the drugs in the manner set out will be as stated or will not result in a positive pre or post-race violation. The Washington Horse Racing Commission is not responsible for results differing in any way from the results stated.
Use of the recommendations does not relieve or lessen any trainer’s responsibility for assuring that, during a horse race, a horse is free from any drug listed or below the appropriate threshold and for complying with provisions of the Washington Horse Racing Commission Rules of Racing and Statutes. Owners, trainers or any other person in charge or having care of a race horse are strongly advised to consult their own veterinarian for advice and guidance in the use of all drugs. The updated threshold list can be seen by clicking here or on the WHRC Forms & Reports page. The updated withdrawal time recommendations can be seen by clicking here or on the WHRC Forms & Reports page. WHRC 2017-2019 Biennial Budget Request
The WHRC has submitted its request for the 2017-2019 biennial budget to the Washington State Legislature. To review the entire budget click here.
WHRC solicits comments on possible legislation
The WHRC is asking stakeholders and interested parties to provide comments on possible agency request legislation for 2019. The WHRC is investigating the possibility of joining a multi-jurisdictional compact that would set rules that pertain to equine medication. The compact would be responsible to set allowable threshold levels for therapeutic medications along with designation prohibited practices.
You can access the entire request for comment letter and a draft of the proposed legislation by clicking here. Please provide comments or questions by September 1, 2018 to doug.moore@whrc.state.wa.us |