Emerald Downs Has Its Dates, But Playfair Pulls Application

Thoroughbred racing in Washington state will enter a new era next summer when Northwest Racing Associates opens Emerald Downs in Auburn.

As expected, the Auburn track was granted 100 days of racing, from June 20 through Nov. 4, on Thursday by the Washington Horse Racing Commission.

Spokane’s Playfair Race Course came away empty-handed after withdrawing its request for a 59-day meet, with statewide simulcasting, from July 12 through Nov. 10.

The commission also approved a 40-day extension, to June 10, of the winter season at Yakima Meadows, filling the gap left when Emerald Downs found it was unable to meet its scheduled early-April opening.

As an alternative to its proposal, Playfair offered to consider a split season with spring and fall dates, but that issue was dropped as well, according to Mike McLaughlin, the commission’s parimutuels inspector.

What 1996 racing dates Playfair will pursue, if any, was not clear.

According to the commission, the Spokane track will submit another application at a later date.

, DataTimes