PRIMER
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Longacres Mile lives at new track
The Mile, which became the premier event each season during the 59 years of Longacres' operation, will be Sunday, Aug. 18, topping a list of 32 stakes events that mix popular Longacres races with new events. "We're proud to be bringing back The Mile," said Emerald Downs President Ron Crockett. "It will help restore the rich tradition our fans have enjoyed." Three other events will offer prize money of $100,000 each: Budweiser-Emerald Handicap, July 21; Eagle Hardware & Garden Derby, Sept. 1; and the Joe Gottstein Futurity, Nov. 4, which is closing day. It is named for the founder of Longacres and is the championship race for 3-year-olds. The Budweiser-Emerald Handicap will be run at a mile and serves as a prep race for the Longacres Mile, which has attracted some of the West's top horses. The Eagle Derby will test 3-year-olds over 1-1/8 miles. On the opening day card, there will be two stakes events. The first race in Emerald Downs history is the $35,000 U.S. Bank Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, going one mile. Later, older horses will race for $60,000 in the 1-1/16-mile Auburn Breeders' Cup. The eight-race Northwest Race Series, each with a purse of $50,000, will focus attention on 2-year-olds. Six of those events will feature the younger horses going 5-1/2 to 1-1/16 miles. The other two races are for 3-year-olds: the Seattle Slew Handicap August 17 and the Washington Oaks Sept. 22, the season's championship for fillies.
© 1996 Seattle Post-Intelligencer The Hearst Corporation All Rights Reserved
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enewal of the Longacres Mile, with a guaranteed purse of $200,000, will be a
feature of the stakes racing schedule at Emerald Downs in its first season of
operation.