2025 Owners and Breeders Bonus distributedThe Owners and Breeders bonuses for 2025 were mailed on Friday, December 19, 2025. The bonuses are calculated by using the total handle by Washington State residents during the live race meet at Emerald Downs. If you believe you have bonus money coming and do not receive your award by December 31st, please call to ensure that it was sent or for instructions on how to submit the form.
The total Owners Bonus is determined by 1% of all In-State handle during the live Emerald Downs race meet along with 2.5% of the Source Market fees generated from Advance Deposit Wagering. A total of $368,301.44 was generated for all owners of Washington Breds which finished first, second, third, or fourth at Emerald Downs. Washington Breds earned $1,786,141.25 during the 2025 race meet. This led to a 20.6200% bonus to all owners of Washington Breds that qualified for the awards. There are 118 different owners or ownership groups that will receive the bonus checks for the 174 different Washington Bred horses that finished first, second, third, or fourth at Emerald Downs. The Breeders Bonus is determined by 1% of the handle on all exotic wagers on races conducted at Emerald Downs, (all wagers other than win, place, and show), during the live meet as required in RCW 67.16.175, as well as 2.5% of Source Market Fees from Advance Deposit Wagering. For 2025 a total of $179,304.76 was generated from the exotic wagers placed on Emerald Downs live races and from SMF thorough ADW. All breeders of Washington Bred horses which finish first, second, or third receive bonus awards. Of the money generated, 75% is given to the horses for purses earned when finishing first, 15% for purses earned for second, and 10% for purses earned for third place. The percentage for the awards is as follows, 12.7781% for first place purses, 6.3684% for second place purses, and 8.2554% for third place purses. A total of 75 breeders will receive bonus checks for 154 different Washington Bred horses that finished first, second or third at Emerald Downs. Click here for a breakdown of the 2025 Owners Bonus payment factors. Click here for a breakdown of the 2025 Breeders Awards payment factors. Emerald Downs 2026 Race Dates ApprovedAt the regularly scheduled, November 14, 2025, Washington Horse Racing Commission meeting, the commissioners unanimously voted to approve the race date request for Emerald Downs 2026 race meet.
Emerald Downs requested a 51-day live racing season for 2026, with opening day on Saturday, May 2nd and finishing the season on Monday, September 7th. More information on race dates, post times and promotions can be found at www.emeralddowns.com or by clicking here. A printable Emerald Downs 2026 live racing calendar can be viewed by clicking here. Who is Horse racing?
The Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association has created a video showing the diversity and economic impact it has on those participating in horse racing, from the breeders to the employees that care for the horses on a day-to-day basis. Click here to see the video or it can be viewed below.
Labor and Industries Rates for 2026 ReleasedThe Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has published its 2026 industrial insurance rates for the Horse Industry Account. Rates are determined by data from the previous five years, July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2024, of exposure and claim experience. Rates will increase for Risk Classes 6625, 6626, and 6627. Grooms and assistant trainers are up $20.23 per month, exercise, and pony riders at the track, 23 cents per day per horse, and exercise and pony riders at the farms $1.24 per day.
Good safety procedures in the stable area and ensuring that no fraudulent claims are filed are the best ways to stabilize or reduce premiums in the future. The following are the proposed industrial insurance rates for 2026:
2025 Emerald Downs HonorsGeorge Todaro's ultra-consistent 5-year-old mare Aloha Breeze was voted Horse of the Meeting at the 30th Emerald Downs season that concluded September 7th. Trained by Tom Wenzel, the Kentucky-bred daughter of The Factor finished the campaign 3-2-0 in five starts, scoring stakes wins in the Washington State Legislators Stakes and Muckleshoot Tribal Distaff, and topping the meet with $89,820 in earnings. In addition to Horse of the Meeting, Aloha Breeze won Top Older Filly Or Mare, becoming the first horse in track history to win four consecutive divisional titles: Top 2-Year-Old Filly (2021), Top 3-Year-old Filly (2022), Top Older Filly or Mare (2024 and 2025).
Aloha Breeze edged stablemate Slew’s Tiz Whiz and Si That Tiger for the season’s top honor. The latter two also received deserved recognition: The Blaine Wright-trained Si That Tiger earning Top Sprinter and Top 3-year-Old Colt or Gelding for owners John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald and Gail Schneider, and the Wenzel-trained 7-year-old Slew’s Tiz Whiz recognized as Top Older Horse and Top Washington-Bred for owners Slews Crew Racing. In the juvenile ranks, double stakes winner Bewitching Joy was a near unanimous choice as Top 2-Year-old Filly while Gottstein Futurity champion Robin Racer took honors as Top 2-Year-Old Colt or gelding. Owned by Cinco Vino Stables and trained by Frank Lucarelli, Bewitching Joy won three races overall including dominant victories in the WTBOA Lassies and Muckleshoot Juvenile Fillies. Owned by Todaro and trained by Wenzel, Robin Racer finished runner-up in the WTBOA Lads Stakes and relished added ground in his convincing Gottstein victory. Top 3-Year-Old Filly went to Steve and Letha Haahr’s consistent Ima Margarita Girl. Trained by Scott Tubbs, the Washington-bred daughter of Coast Guard was awarded first place money in the Kent Stakes and finished runner-up in the Washington Oaks and vs. older fillies and mares in the Tribal Distaff, missing by a desperate nose to Aloha Breeze. In an unprecedented development, 11-year-old Surprsinglyperfect won his second straight Top Claimer award, compiling a 4-0-1 mark in six starts for trainer Justin Evans. Owned by Evans and Rakoczy Racing, Surprsinglyperfect is a sparking 8-1-2 in 13 starts here the last two seasons. Kevin Krigger ended Alex Cruz’ run of five straight Emerald Downs riding titles in 2025. A 41-year-old native of St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Krigger finished first in wins (70), win percentage (23.0), and earnings $914,559. Krigger previously won the Emerald Downs’ title in 2005. Jorge Rosales captured his second training title, winning 41 races to dethrone two-time champion Evans, who finished runner-up with 27. Rosales finished the season red-hot, winning with 31 of his final 108 starters (28.7%). Creative Om was among his top runners, tying Surprsinglypercet for most wins and capturing the $30,000 Cupcakes and Carrots Starter Allowance on closing weekend. Wenzel led all trainers with six stakes wins while conditioning three champions (Aloha Breeze, Slew’s Tiz Whiz, Robin Racer). Wenzel won three stakes in a day twice, earning the meet’s Top Training Achievement. Smiling Tiger was the meet’s leading sire with 17 wins, followed by Coast Guard, 15, and Stanford, 14. Fueled by an influx of Northern California horsemen, California-breds won 162 of 413 races or 39.2 percent, followed by Washington-breds (114/27.6%) and Kentucky-breds (103/24.9%). Claiming activity was hot and heavy throughout the meet with 224 horses red-tagged for an aggregate $1,466,500. Full list of honors for the 2025 Emerald Downs race meet: Horse of Meeting: Aloha Breeze Washington-bred: Slew’s Tiz Whiz Older Horse: Slew’s Tiz Whiz Older Filly or Mare: Aloha Breeze 3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Si That Tiger 3-Year-Old Filly: Ima Margarita Girl 2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Robin Racer 2-Year-Old Filly: Bewitching Joy Sprinter: Si That Tiger Claimer: Suprsinglyperfect Race of Meeting: Longacres Mile (Arrowthegreat) Leading Jockey Wins: Kevin Krigger, 70 Leading Jockey Stakes Wins: tie-4, Isaias Enriquez/Carlos Montalvo Leading Jockey Earnings: Kevin Krigger, $914,559 Leading Apprentice Jockey: Manuel Americano (54 wins as apprentice) Leading Trainer: Jorge Rosales, 41 Leading Trainer Stakes Wins: Tom Wenzel, 6 Leading Trainer Earnings: Blaine Wright, $563,511 Leading Owner: tie-8, George Todaro/Ramon Chavarria-Delgado, Kevin Chavarria and Rosales Racing F1 Leading Owner Earnings: George Todaro, $276,430 Leading Horse Wins: 4-tie, Creative Om/Surprsinglyperfect Leading Horse Stakes Wins: 2-tie, Aloha Breeze/Bewitching Joy/Si That Tiger/Slew’s Tiz Whiz Leading Horse Earnings: Aloha Breeze, $89,820 Riding Achievement: Kevin Krigger wins second riding title Training Achievement: Tom Wenzel, two three-win stakes days Martin Durkan Award: Tena Birdwell Lindy Award: Frank Alvarado Leading Sire Wins: Smiling Tiger, 17 Claims: 225 ($1,466,500) Senator Claudia Kauffman appointed to commission as Ex-OfficioOn February 21, 2025, Senator Claudia Kauffman was appointed as the newest Ex-Officio for the WHRC. Senator Kauffman replaces Senator Derek Stanford.
Senator Kauffman was sworn into the Washington State Senate in January 2023. She is the caucus’s Leadership Liaison to Tribal Nations, chair of the Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee, and a member of the Ways & Means and State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections committees, and also serves as the co-vice chair of the Senate Democrats’ Members of Color Caucus. A resident of Kent for over 20 years, Senator Kauffman was previously elected and served as Washington state senator of the 47th Legislative District from 2007-11. A member of the Nez Perce tribe, she is the only American Indian currently serving in the Senate. Senator Kauffman is a fierce advocate for legislation and policy to protect children, address equity, increase support services for people with disabilities, and improve public education in Washington. The WHRC welcomes Senator Kauffman to the industry and looks forward to working with her on all issues surrounding horse racing. |
Washington State’s Down the Stretch Ranch Garners National Attention
Down The Stretch Ranch co-founded in 2015 by Hall of Fame Trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, his wife Janet, and Boone McCanna in Creston, Washington has gotten national attention recently. The foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit thoroughbred race horse retirement facility which connects injured or retired racehorses with United States Veterans and through the use of equine therapy helps bring comfort and companionship to veterans.
Down The Stretch ranch was recently placed in national spotlight by trainer Doug O’Neill whose support of the foundation was on display during Breeders Cup week when his horses wore coolers featuring Down The Stretch Ranch. The Paulick Report also recently featured an article written by Hank Wesch of Del Mar about Down The Stretch Ranch and the work it is doing with retired thoroughbred racehorses and veterans that can be viewed by clicking here. For more information on Down The Stretch Ranch and what can be done to support their cause please visit their website http://www.downthestretch.org/ or their Facebook page by clicking here. Now Accepting Credit & Debit Cards
The Washington Horse Racing Commission is now accepting Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit and debit cards for the payment of WHRC license fees, Labor & Industries Industrial Insurance premiums and other fines/fees collected. A service fee of 3% will be added to all credit or debit transactions.
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 [email protected], 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.
Follow the WHRC Board of Stewards on Twitter
You can now follow the WHRC Board of Stewards on twitter. Get the latest rider changes, scratches, etc. directly from the stewards. Limited explanation of inquires and objections will be posted with a link to the Emerald Downs website for daily stewards report with a more detailed explanation that are up within 72 hours of each race day. Click here to start following at @whrcstewards for all the information.
Fingerprint Requirements
The WHRC adopted changes to WAC 260-36-100 in 2019 which resulted in changes to the fingerprint requirements for applicants and licensees. Fingerprint based criminal history checks through the FBI are normally required every five years but may be required at any time. Each year every person between the ages of eighteen and sixty-nine must pay a $10 fingerprint processing fee in addition to the license fees. Any applicant or licensee over the age of sixty-nine or under the age of eighteen will not be required to pay the $10 fingerprint fee unless fingerprints are requested by the WHRC and they will be required to pay the entire cost of the submission at time of processing. Additionally, fingerprints may be required in the following circumstances:
2024 WHRC Annual ReportThe Washington Horse Racing Commission's 2024 Annual Report to the Governor is available to view by visiting the WHRC Forms and Reports page or clicking here.
ARCI discusses regulation against "doping" and medication violations
The Association of Racing Commissioners International, of which the WHRC is a current member, and the University of Florida Racing Laboratory has released a five minute video in which the history of medication and horse racing is discussed. The video discusses current standards and protections in place to detect and deter intentional administrations. The WHRC has adopted virtually all of the recommended threshold levels currently recommended by the ARCI. Click here or scroll down to view the video.
WHRC Votes on HISA fee assessmentAt the regularly scheduled meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission on November 8, 2024, the WHRC commissioners unanimously voted to submit fees to the created Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, (HISA) pending a signed agreement outlining the fees and credits along with the duties required. The Authority was created by the U.S. Congress in December of 2020 and was given the task of creating safety and medication standards for all pari-mutuel jurisdictions participating in inter-state simulcasting.
WHRC Owners License Applications and Labor and Industries Premiums
All owners applying for a WHRC license are required to pay a subsidy to the Horsemen's Labor and Industries Account. The amount is based on the percentage of horses owned. The maximum amount to be paid is $150.00. The WHRC calculates the premium at a minimum of 10% ownership and then rounded up in increments of 5% after. Percentage of multiple horses are added together for calculations. For example, if an individual owns 11% of one horse and 12.5% of a second horse for a total of 23.5%, the percentage is rounded up to 25% and the L & I premium would be $37.50. Once an owner has paid $150.00, no additional premium is required. Below is a chart for premiums due:
1% to 10% ownership = $15.00 11% to 15% ownership = $22.50 16% to 20% ownership = $30.00 21% to 25% ownership = $37.50 26% to 30% ownership = $45.00 31% to 35% ownership = $52.50 36% to 40% ownership = $60.00 41% to 45% ownership = $67.50 46% to 50% ownership = $75.00 51% to 55% ownership = $82.50 56% to 60% ownership = $90.00 61% to 65% ownership = $97.50 66% to 70% ownership = $105.00 71% to 75% ownership = $112.50 76% to 80% ownership = $120.00 81% to 85% ownership = $127.50 86% to 90% ownership = $135.00 91% to 95% ownership = $142.50 96% to 100% ownership = $150.00 This premium is addition to the actual license fees of $96.00 plus $10.00 fingerprint fee, ($106.00), for all applicants over the age of 17 and under the age of 70. For those under 18 or over 69 the license fee is $96.00. If you are unsure of how to calculate the ownership percentages or have any questions please call the WHRC offices at 360-459-6462 in Olympia or 253-931-6372 at Emerald Downs. |