When nearby Longacres Racetrack closed in September 1992 there was a gap in the market which racing enthusiasts from Western Washington were eager to be filled. However, it was almost 4 years later that Emerald Downs racecourse opened its gates to racing in its inaugural meeting on 20th June 1996. The racecourse of Emerald Downs is a thoroughbred race track situated in the town of Auburn in Washington State, with the additional bonus of floodlights to facilitate evening meetings. The oval racetrack has a circumference of a mile and has an all-weather surface, with no grass racing available at the course, and a season that begins in April and extends through to September. The track has additional 6 ½ furlong and 10 furlong chutes, sharing a 289 metre home straight. The principal race is the Longacres Mile Handicap for 3 year olds and upwards, which was inherited from Longacres and is a Grade III race. It had originally been instigated in June 1935 at Longacres when won by Coldwater and, in its early days, was the most valuable mile race in America. In 1988 and 1989 Simply Majestic achieved a notable double by gaining consecutive victories in the Longacres Mile Handicap. In 1988 he was ridden by Russell Baze, but was guided to victory the next year in the hands of Ron Hansen. Its other principal races are The Washington Breeders Cup Oaks for fillies and the Emerald Breeders Cup Derby.

I am grateful to our American Racing Correspondent Richard Gauthier for the badges shown on the page.

Longacres Mile winners since moving to Emerald Downs in 1996 (The race was launched in 1935 at Longacres, moving to Yakima Meadows for the 1993, 1994 and 1995 contests after Longacres closed)
1996 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Isitingood trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by David Flores
1997 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Kid Katabatic trained by Shauna Van Ooostdam and ridden by Chris Loseth
1998 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Wild Wonder trained by Gregory Gilchrist and ridden by Eddie Delahoussay
1999 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Budroyale trained by Ted West and ridden by Garrett Gomez
2000 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Edneator trained by Jim Penney and ridden by Gallyn Mitchell
2001 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Irisheyesareflying trained by John Dolan and ridden by Iggy Puglisi
2002 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Sabertooth trained by Jim Penney and ridden by Nathan Chaves
2003 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Sky Jack trained by Douglas ONeill and ridden by Russell Baze
2004 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Adreamisborn trained by Jerry Hollendorfe and ridden by Russell Baze
2005 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by No Giveaway trained by Grant Forster and ridden by Juan Guteirrez
2006 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Flamethrowintexan trained by Jim Penney and ridden by Ricky Frazier
2007 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by The Great Face trained by Tom Wenzel and ridden by Juan Guteirrez
2008 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Wasserman trained by Howard Belvoir and ridden by Jennifer Whitaker
2009 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Assessment trained by Howard Belvoir and ridden by Gallyn Mitchell
2010 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Noosa Beach trained by Doris Harwood and ridden by Ricky Frazier
2011 The Longacres Mile for 3 year olds and upwards was won by Awesome Gem trained by Craig Dollase and ridden by David Flores
2012 The Longacres Mile was won by Taylor Said trained by Michael Puhich and ridden by Mario Gutierrez
2013 The Longacres Mile was won by Herbie D trained by Robert Gilker and ridden by Amadeo Perez
2014 The Longacres Mile was won by Stryker PHd trained by Larry Ross and ridden by Leslie Mawing
2015 The Longacres Mile was won by Stryker PHd trained by Larry Ross and ridden by Leslie Mawing
2016 The Longacres Mile was won by Point Piper trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Mario Gutierrez
2017 The Longacres Mile was won by Gold Rush Dancer trained by Vann Belvoir and ridden by Evin Roman
2018 The Longacres Mile was won by Barkley trained by Howard Belvoir and ridden by Javier Matias