West Side’s New Horse Track Aims To Offer Something For Everybody

For decades horse races were a highlight of county fairs. Now, it seems the thoroughbred racing industry is hoping to recreate the midway at the track.

When Emerald Downs opens this week, it will offer much more than the return of racing to Western Washington.

In a bid to get families to the races, the track will offer pony rides, clowns, crafts, magicians and face painting on Sundays. On Fridays, there’ll be concerts featuring local bands - targeting the baby-boomer crowd - between races and after hours. And there’s a video arcade on the second floor for the teens.

Track employees will be available to help novices pick horses and place bets. There’ll be Emerald Downs merchandise, from jackets to golf balls.

“What we’re trying to do is to give you as many reasons as possible to come to the track,” said Ben Cambra, vice president of marketing for the Northwest Racing Association that owns and operates Emerald Downs.

By the time the track opens Thursday, the association will have spent $82 million on the enterprise - $10 million from Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett, at least $100,000 each from 27 well-heeled and well-connected local investors and a bank loan. Visitors to the new track will have to spend an average of $37.90 for the track to make it financially, with crowds averaging 6,000 each race day, Cambra said.

The strategy is to “rebuild the base from Longacres and attract a younger crowd,” said developer Herman Sarkowsky.

But the bottom-line appeal is, of course, racing itself.

“There is that mystique, grandeur and tradition of horse racing which attracts a lot of people,” veterinarian Steve Day said.