March 31, 2020
To: All Horsemen and Industry Stakeholders
Emerald Downs Update:
Beginning on April 1 no new horsemen or horses will be permitted to enter or stable at Emerald Downs for a period of at least 30 days. Dormitory rooms will only be for current occupants as of April 1.
The track will remain open for training five days a week (closed Monday & Thursday) from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Policies and procedures currently in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will remain in effect and will be enforced.
Access to the stable area will remain open to essential WHRC licensed workers. We are requesting that any licensed worker who has traveled to another state to please self-quarantine for a period of 14 days before returning to the stable area at Emerald Downs.
For licensed workers who return to their homes on a daily basis we ask that they follow all the guidelines of Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order which requires every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity. The training and care of racehorses is an outdoor activity and the proclamation states it’s safe to be outside as long as people remain at least six feet from each other.
Although it is not possible to predict any exact dates it is still very much the intention of Emerald Downs to conduct a race meet in 2020 although opening day which was scheduled for April 18 has been postponed.
As of March 31, there have been no known cases of Covid-19 in the stable area at Emerald Downs. We have set up a quarantine barn and dorm rooms. Any stable resident reporting symptoms will be moved to that area.
For more information Washington State has a special web site which includes the latest Covid-19 health guidance, statistics, and resources. Visit coronavirus.wa.gov.
Stay well and we hope to see you all at the races soon.
Need to contact someone from the Race Office? Time to get licensed? General information about Horsemen’s Services here.
Race office 253-288-7755.
Bret Anderson, Director of Racing 253-288-7751.
Our 25th season of racing will be in 2020.
Schedule subject to change in the upcoming months.
