[1].gif) (Reed
Palmer/Emerald Downs Photo: Trainer Doris Harwood ponies superstar
Washington-bred Noosa Beach to the track on opening day of
training at Emerald Downs. Feb. 1, 2012)
THE HORSES ARE BACK AT EMERALD DOWNS! TRAINING
BEGINS FOR 17th SEASON
AUBURN, Wash. (Feb. 2, 2012) – The horses were on the track
Wednesday as training began for the 81-day meeting that begins
Friday, April 13.
Snow On the River, with trainer Monique Snow up, was the first horse
on the track shortly after 8:30 a.m. The 6-year-old Washington-bred
gelding had his chestnut coat slicked by rainfall that yielded to
intermittent sun breaks. In other words, typical February weather at
Emerald Downs.
Director of Racing Bret Anderson said 153 horses were on the grounds
for the first day back at the track, and added horses will be
arriving daily from nearby farms and training centers, and from
racetracks in California and Arizona. Hopefully, the grand total
will be around 1,000 horses in time for the track’s 17th opening
night in April
Doris Harwood, the track’s all-time leading stakes-winning trainer,
was back at work, ponying several runners to the track for what she
calls extended trotting. “For horses that have been away from the
track, it helps build up their bone density,” she said.
Two-time Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting Noosa Beach made an
early appearance for Harwood and, as usual, was all business. “He’s
excited and happy to be back to work,” Harwood said.
Noosa Beach, the track’s all-time leader with 11 stakes wins
including the 2010 Longacres Mile, is fully recovered from the
bruised foot that curtailed his campaign last September, and will
begin his 6-year-old season with a 14-for-21 lifetime mark and
earnings of $520,722.
Music for my Soul, a 2-year-old full brother to Noosa Beach (By
Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose), also was on the track Wednesday for
Harwood.
Other familiar faces for the beginning of training were jockeys
Gallyn Mitchell and Jennifer Whitaker, and trainers Howard Belvoir,
Sharon Ross, Margo Lloyd, Terry Gillihan Tom Wenzel, Chris Stenslie
and Richard and Blaine Wright.
Training hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.
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