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Emerald Downs
Rating Details »
Category: Arts & Entertainment
2300 Emerald Downs DrAuburn, WA 98001
(253) 288-7711
Holiday Gift Packages Nov 1-Dec 30
-Two For The Races $30…
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- Hours:
Mon-Wed. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
11 reviews for Emerald Downs
It was devastating when Long Acres was turned into a Boeing lot or a vacant field or whatever "worthwhile venture" made it so they just had to tear down a track with such character. I was thrilled when they built the new track. But not thrilled it was in Auburn.
Yesterday my family made the trek to the track once again and, as always, had a nice little Saturday. Our preferred method is taking a place in the dining room. You are required to order $10 per person and then there is a wonderful view from every table and you have your own secure area to setup shop. Perfect.
I have my rituals. For the first race I usually just observe from the table, quietly muttering "my" horse's number as he crosses the finish line...usualy 4th or worse. The next race i bet and eagerly call his name from the table. Then next race I go down to the paddock and carefully look over the straights hocks, long underline, and ample rump than watch the race from the finish line. My rituals do not work. I am a conservative gambler and I lose...over and over.
The food is an ok value. Appetizers are pitifully small. Alcohol is ridiculously marked up. I hear they have cheap beer on Fridays and that sounds like a good time with friends, but then you have to make the drive. Damn you Auburn!
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Worst racetrack I have ever been to.
Not only is the atmosphere impersonal and tacky - but the food is overpriced (moreso than usual) and the service is horrendous.
Let me start off my saying I love horses and horse racing. As much as I love watching the ponies I hate what Emerald Downs is doing to it's customers. I went opening weekend of the 2009 meet and you better bring your wallet.
First problem was the disabled parking lot nearest the entrance, it was full by 11am and the first Emerald race doesn't begin until 2pm. There is off track betting from other tracks around the nation that starts at 10am so people do arrive early. I had a disabled person with me and if that "free" lot was full in years past they would let you double park in this lot and you leave your keys with the lot attendant and they would jockey the cars around. No such luck this year so we drove to the next closest lot we came to and it was $7. Last year it was $5. We ended driving down to the free lot which was too far to walk for my disabled friend so we waited for the shuttle tram.
Fair warning if you take this tram, you better not have to pee, or have any kind of spinal issues because this tram could jar the fillings out of most anyone's teeth. It was the most bouncy ride ever and it felt like the wheels were gonna fall off.
We arrive at the gate and guess what? With these tough economic times Emerald has decided to raise the price to $7 to enter. Last year it was $4. If you join the players club it will only cost you $5. I always like to buy a racing form to get the inside information and past performances to help handicap the races and the form cost $4.
Inside the grounds there are many places to sit, inside or out. Some great options for the kids such as an arcade room, face painting and inflatable bouncing area. There are many food choices with most being average to just OK.
I think Emerald is making a huge mistake by raising their prices. This is such a tough economy and if the average person came here and wanted to spend a day with a friend or family it would be very expensive. I think kids under 18 to get in free though.
Parking (within walking distance) $7
Admission $7
Racing Form and program $6.50
If two people wanted to spend a day at the races they would be out $34 if they bought forms, programs, admission and split parking cost before the ever placed a wager or bought any food. You could drive 10 minutes away to the Muckleshoot Casino and park, enter and start gambling for FREE. This is a bad move on Emerald Downs part. I hope they survive. I also hope management wakes up and realizes they are destroying a great industry.
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Hi my name is Mitzie H. and I LOVE the ponies. Sometimes I'm lucky and the ponies love me back and sometimes I'm not so lucky but what ever the case may be it's still a fun way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
Now if I were to rate Emerald Downs off of my first few visits it would only get a 1 star rating. This is because I grew up "Playing Where the Surf Meets the Turf" at the beautiful Del Mar race track http://www.dmtc.com/. It's an amazing track with an amazing view plus they have a turf track and you can walk out to the infield and watch the races from the grass. There is none of that at Emerald Downs, though Emerald Downs does have a nice view of Mount Rainer but a view of the beach, a turf track and watching the races from the infield trump Mount Rainer any day of the week in my book.
Over the years I've grown to appreciate Emerald Downs for what it is. A cute little race track that's here for me to bet on some ponies. Note the track isn't little just the grounds are, at least to me. I've sat just about everywhere, the bleachers seats, in the Triple Crown suites (I got lucky on this invite), the view room (a friends birthday party) and clubhouse (a Kentucky Derby Party), and the grandstand; because the place is rather small there really isn't a bad seat in the house. Also because it doesn't get super crowded if you like to stand at the finish line you can normally budge your way in to watch the race. On normal visits I'll either just pay the $5.00 to get in and roam around or pay an extra $10.00 and sit up in the grandstand area all depends on my mood.
So over the years I've establish some favorite jockeys and trainers at Emerald Downs, some of my favorite jockeys are Jennifer Whitaker, who by the way won the Longacres mile yesterday and was the first woman jockey to ever win it. I also like to watch Kevin Radke, Seth Martinez and Ricky Frazier who all did well for me yesterday as well. Some of my favorite trainers are Howard Belvoir, Robert Baze and Tim McCanna. I'm not going to lie, 9 times out of 10 I end up picking a horse not because of the jockey or who trained it but because of its name or its color, I always bet on the gray horse ALWAYS.
They have a wide variety of concession items and the prices are cheaper than Safeco and Qwest Field concessions plus if you want a cocktail you can have a cocktail and drink it in your seat you aren't stuck in some bar drinking it away from all the action. Plus they let you bring in your own food and non-alcoholic drinks so you don't even need to hit up the concession stands if you don't want too.
If you're looking for something fun and different to do come down to Auburn and check out the ponies, it is fun and there's some great people watching to be had.
I want to add I only go one to three times a season I'm not down there every weekend blowing my paycheck I promise!
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I have a friend who put himself through school working the window at Longacres, then the OTB in Southcenter while Emerald Downs was being built, and finally Emerald Downs paved his way to an MSW. He now spends his days helping the "misfits and loony tunes" cope with their lives. So nice that he was able to get there on the backs of addictive personalities. I enjoy the irony anyway.
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I like to take a little risk in life and I like things that are a little naughty. The track provides me with a very wholesome environment in which to scratch these little itches. I love a long shot, but I don't invest too much. I give myself $100 or so to piss away on the possibility that one of the horses who's name I was attracted to will pay off. I have no idea how to read a form you see - I just trust my instincts. At the end of the day, if I win groovy - if not, I haven't lost much and I had a good time.
It's kinda like the flirty little dance we all do with someone we're attracted to; maybe it'll work out, maybe no - maybe you'll get a friend out of it, maybe no. At the end of the day, it was fun and totally worth it if for nothing else than the risk and the rush. And the naughty for sure.
Wiener Dog races at the last race of the season. Yip-eeee! Get it? 'Cause they're yippy dogs.
Sorry.
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I decided that enough of going to the blackjack tables today and instead bet my hard earned money on horses. Delilah R. decided she would invite me to the Emerald Downs to blow some steam (and money). I was expected to pay the $7 admission but this hot lady came up to us and gave us free vouchers to get into the arena, of course I muttered "sweet" as I snagged mine from her hand. When we got inside, there people scrambling trying to find the ticket cashiers and the voucher redemption areas. I got excited and decided to bet on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th races. The first race I bet on horse #3 and won 16.20! Nice! Abbey brought the 1st round of beers. I got the Alaskan Amber on tap, but it still tasted kind of flat. A corn dog, garlic fries, and ice cream later, I lost $20 bucks on the horses I was betting. Although, I lost some money, the venue and staff were really friendly and eager to teach newbies the art of horse racing :)
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My horse-track betting cherry has been popped, and I loved it!
This was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. My friend wanted to spend her birthday with good friends but with a different flair. When she mentioned the horse races I found myself more excited then anything. There was three couples and none of us had ever been to the horse track (well I had but back home in Tucson, and honestly I wasn't paying much attention). They were passing out free Scratch tickets and someone at our table won $3. And in fact from then on we were all winners. Of course when you make a $2 bet your return isn't stellar, but then if you lose ... well it's only $2 honey, deal with it.
We booked a bit late in the week to get a really good seat in the restaurant, but we could see the far side of the track very well and each table came with a lil' TV to which you could tune into Emerald Downs or the plethora of other tracks around the country. How fuckin' cool is that?! I tried to go off stats and wins, but honestly we were having so much fun that I eventually just went with the names that amused me. Take for example Queen Charisma, or Viking Tribunal, or Spatterdash. All winners in my book!
The food was good, not amazing but good and fulfilling. Generous portions, and generously booze filled adult libations = happiness! I had the paella, a wee bit too salty but that's why there's pepper right? Ian had breakfast, with the plate the size of his head. Nick had fish and chips, the other couple split the buffalo chicken sammy, and a salad for Nicole the birthday girl (can't remember specifically what kind of salad). We even splurged on ginormous banana splits. Our server was attentive and down-to-earth, even saved us the hassle and broke our bill out for us.
Everyone else we encountered working there was very sincere and friendly. No one mocked us or treated us like crap for being first-timers. $5 admission, free general parking, $5 perferred parking, $10 valet, kids 17 & under FREE! There's a petting area, pony rides, an arcade, several bars, loads of general seating, and just an all around great vibe. Note to other first-timers: do yourself a big favor and buy the $3 racing book specifically for the newbies.
I CANNOT wait to go back! Next time I'm betting big, HUGE!
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There are so many good reasons to go to Emerald Downs on a summer weekend. I can't possibly list them all, but these are a few of the key offerings.
1. It's thrilling. You put a couple bucks down on a horse every half hour, and you're rewarded with a total rush of adrenaline. It's a gas to be part of the crowd screaming and jumping to their feet every 30 minutes. And you may even win cash!!!!!
2. It's cheap. Just 5 bucks to get in and a 2 dollar minimum bet. Even if you lose every race a whole evening of entertainment costs less than dinner in a mediocre restaurant.
3. $1.50 beers on Friday. Hello?
4. There is absolutely NO hipster presence. You can spend all day in a great, cool place with tremendous underground cache and cheap alcohol, and yet you won't find a single black-clad rockstar wannabe.
5. The more time you spend there, the better you get at WINNING. There really is a science to winning $$$ at the track, and you start to figure it out on your 2nd or 3rd trip. After your 5th visit, you'll always leave with more money than you came with. I'm not gonna tell you my foolproof system, but it works every time.
See you there!
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So, I've never actually been to Emerald Downs to bet on horses. I actually don't even like the idea.
But, I had a work meeting here in the event space so I was "forced" to go. I thought that the chairs were very comfortable and the AV equipment was excellent. Its a hard room to light and hear - but the staff made it happen.
The best part of ED is the catering. They don't skimp on the cream - to say the least. However, both the salad and the rolls were excellent and surprisingly there were vegetarian options that were quite good!
UPDATE! August 2007:
I recently attended the Weiner Dog Races as part of the Longacres Mile festivities. It was SO MUCH FUN! Drinks were strong ($7.50 for a margarita and a keepsake glass) and fun, the food was reasonable and the races were really fun to watch.
I also had my day-camp kids participate in a FREE field trip here - it was great. Our tour guide was beyond knowledgeable and we were able to spend time at the Vet Hospital. It was fantastic. I recommend it to all!
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There are so many reasons to head to Emerald Downs. If you're a college student there are great drink specials here on Thurs and Fri nights and the horse racing isn't too bad if you like that sort of thing. The facility is pretty nice but it's usually packed to the brim. Come and check it out, have a beer or two, and throw down some cold hard cash on some horses!
Gotta go bet on the ponies once a season. Head down there on a Sunday and the kids will get in free (always). THEN the kids are treated to a complimentary jumper, pony rides, face painting and more while you kick back and relax and hopefully win a few bucks. Kids area is separated enough from the riff-raff in the grandstand. Fans are welcome to bring plenty of food and drink (no glass). A great summer outing with friends and family.