Emerald Downs Does Its Best To Trample Playfair New Racetrack Seeks Extension, 1997 Schedule That Could End Horse Racing In Spokane

The fierce jockeying for racing dates got nastier Wednesday when operators of Emerald Downs asked the state racing commission for a larger slice of the calendar.

Officials at the new track in Auburn want an extension of their current season through Nov. 18. They also seek a 148-day race meet next year that could wipe out live racing in Spokane.

Approval of the request would leave only the crumbs of winter to be carved up by Playfair Race Course and Yakima Meadows.

Backed by thoroughbred industry leaders in Western Washington, the commission has rubber-stamped past requests by Northwest Racing Associates, operators of Emerald Downs. The state has also consistently ruled against granting overlapping seasons. The commission instead has parceled out to each track essential statewide off-track betting seasons.

By proposing to expand its 1997 race meet by 48 dates, officials at Emerald Downs “are putting the squeeze on us,” New Playfair Park vice-president Ted Martin said.

“I can’t understand why they’re ganging up on us,” Martin added.

“It appears Yakima and Emerald Downs got together on this,” New Playfair Park president Phil Ziegler said. “They (officials at Emerald Downs) lied.”

Spokane horsemen have pinned their future to the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s bid to assume operations at Playfair. The tribal council, through New Playfair Park Inc., proposes to upgrade the Spokane track and run it for five years.

The next round in what is shaping up as a battle for existence is Tuesday, when the racing commission meets at the Washington State Training Conference Center, not far from Seattle-Tacoma airport, at 19010 1st Avenue South in Seattle.

First on the agenda is New Playfair Park Inc.’s request for a license to operate the Spokane track. Racing dates are also on the agenda.

The state’s three racing associations filed requests by Wednesday, racing commission executive secretary Bruce Batson said.

Appletree Turf Associates of Yakima want 56 days, from Nov. 22 through March 23, at the Central Washington Fairgrounds.

New Playfair Park, Inc., has amended its request, from Oct. 11 through Nov. 2 - 11 days without simulcasting - followed by 76 days from Nov. 7 through March 30, with statewide simulcasting.

New Playfair Park is asking for a ‘97 season from Aug. 12 through Sept. 20 - an 18-day summer meet without off-track betting - and a 60-day fall meeting from Sept. 25 through Dec. 21 with statewide simulcasting.

Emerald Downs wants to extend its current season through Nov. 18. Officials at the new track also want to cut back to four days a week starting Sept. 12. The track’s inaugural season would still total 100 race days.

Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett also seeks 148 dates in 1997, from March 27 through Nov. 10.

Given the commission’s stance on overlapping dates, at least one of the three associations will be disappointed - or put out of business.

The racing season in Western Washington, Martin said, is traditionally April through September.

It’s a very serious situation for us,” Martin said. “We have to hang our hat on what has been said at previous meetings, that the racing commission - Barbara Shinpoch in particular - has said that dates have been reserved through the end of the year for Playfair.”

The concept of an extended season at Emerald cast a shadow on what had been a promising Wednesday morning at the Spokane track.

Dean Johnson of Sacramento was in town to survey the five-furlong track for improvements including installation of a new safety rail.

Ziegler cited an agreement reached last fall whereby Emerald Downs would not seek October and November dates in ‘97, “and everybody would try to find help for Playfair,” Ziegler said.

Martin said Emerald Downs is trying to buck tradition.

“Longacres (the previous Westside track) didn’t want to turn that many days,” he said. “I’m surprised they want to try that time frame.”

, DataTimes