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Washington Society of CPAs set breakfast meeting on 'The Business of Horse Racing' at Emerald Downs

- The Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants will sponsor a breakfast meeting on Thursday, May 19 at Emerald Downs on the topic of "The Business of Horse Racing."

The meeting is from 8-9:30 a.m. in the racetrack's View Room, 2300 Emerald Downs Drive.

The breakfast will feature Ron Crockett, president of Emerald Downs; Ron Maus, president of the Washington Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association; and Dana Halvorson, president of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association.

To register, please contact the WSCPA at 425-644-4800 or 800-272-8273 and refer to course code CHSK13. The cost for the breakfast and presentation is $30.

For more information, visit www.wscpa.org/Public/Catalog/CourseDetails.

Michael Baze Found Dead at Churchill Downs - May 11, 2011 - Jockey Michael Baze, a member of a famed riding family in United States racing, was found dead the afternoon of May 10 on the backstretch at Churchill Downs. The death of the 24-year-old Baze was confirmed by the Louisville Metro Coronor’s office. - Benoit Photo

Formal Plan to try the Grade 3 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on Friday May 6th - Portland, OR- May 4, 2011 - Formal Plan, who started her career at Portland Meadows earlier this season will be taking on nine rivals in the $100,000 Grade 3 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day, Friday May 6th.

NOOSA BEACH PREVAILS IN 2011 DEBUT - CAPTURES GEORGE ROYAL IN VANCOUVER - April 22, 2011 - Washington Horse of the Year and 2010 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting Noosa Beach returned to action in grand style Friday afternoon in Vancouver, B. C.

Sun Downs begins its final run, perhaps - KENNEWICK, WA - April 22, 2011 - A smaller track like Sun Downs -- called a Class C race site -- is at the mercy of what the Washington State Horse Racing Commission can give it.

Noosa Beach is back, ready for another big year at Emerald Downs - Auburn, WA - April 14, 2011 — Forgive trainer Doris Harwood for not getting too caught up in the records her 5-year-old star Noosa Beach could break this season at Emerald Downs, which opens Friday night.

ESSB 5747 Passage Will Aid Washington Fair Race Meets - April 14, 2011 - After being passed 46-to-two in the Washington Senate and 93-to-two in the House, Governor Christine Gregoire signed bill ESSB 5747 into law on April 5, 2011. Sponsored by Senate Minority leader Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla), the bill will help keep the nonprofit Class C Eastern Washington meets racing and maintain jobs. Only meets holding dates in 2010 or who have been operating for the past five years are eligible.

Getting ready to Go Baby Go at Emerald Downs - March 31, 2011 - Another rainy, slopping morning in Auburn. A perfect day for Skyrider, who loves running in the mud and winning races at Emerald Downs.

Washington connections up for major stakes - March 25, 2011 - David and Jill Heerensperger's multiple stakes winner Bourbon Bay, a five-year-old son of Sligo Bay (Ire), drew post position nine in the field of 14 scheduled to run in the $5-million China Guangsha Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), a 2,140-meter turf race over Meydan Racecourse on Monday, March 28.

EMERALD DOWNS ANNOUNCES $60,000 QUARTER HORSE RACE “AQHA BANK OF AMERICA CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP” AUBURN, WA - March 10, 2011 – Emerald Downs, which recently announced plans to offer a limited number of quarter horse races at its upcoming 82-day meeting, will host a major quarter horse race on Sunday, Sept. 4.

Sen. Hewitt bill to aid non-profit, local horse races passes Senate - OLYMPIA, WA - March 2, 2011 - The Washington State Senate passed Senate Bill 5747, a measure that would require the state Horse Racing Commission to distribute a specific amount of collected funds to nonprofit meets. Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, sponsored the bill.

WASHINGTON RACING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES ITS 2011 FINALISTS - AUBURN, Wash. Feb. 25, 2011 – The Washington Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame will host its 9th annual induction ceremony at Emerald Downs following the races on Saturday, Aug. 20.

Champ Noosa Beach "Horse of Year" - Auburn, WA - Feb. 19, 2011 - Over 225 racing enthusiasts gathered at Emerald Downs in Auburn for the Washington Champions and Annual Awards Banquet on February 19 to celebrate the 2010 Washington champion racehorses and honor industry members whose contributions throughout the years have added so much to our wonderful sport.

“WIN PLACE SHOW” FEATURES RUSSELL BAZE AND MERCER ISLAND SHOW-VIVIOR WINNER - AUBURN, WA - Feb. 18, 2011 – Russell Baze, North America's all-time leading rider with 11,175 wins, will be the featured guest on Saturday's edition of the Win Place Show on KJR Sports Radio 950 AM.

RACE FOR EDUCATION FORMS NEW ALLIANCES AND OFFERS MORE OPTIONS - Lexington, Ky. – Feb. 16, 2011 – With ten potential scholarship opportunities offered by the Race For Education (RFE) in 2011, students’ dreams of obtaining a college education just got a little closer.

Pegasus Two Year Olds In Training Sale Results - Redmond, WA. Feb. 15, 2011 - Dr. Mark Dedomenico and Glen Todd partnered to hold the first Pegasus TB 2-year-olds in Training Sale February 15 at Dedomenico’s Pegasus TB Training and Rehabilitation Center in Redmond.

Sun Downs gets only 6 dates for spring meet - Auburn, WA - Feb. 12, 2011 - Cliff Schellinger knew going into Thursday's Washington State Horse Racing Commission meeting in Auburn that his group, the Tri-City Horse Racing Association, wouldn't be granted its usual 10 days for its annual meet.

EMERALD DOWNS’ STAKES WORTH OVER $1.5 MILLION; $200,000 LONGACRES MILE (GIII) SUNDAY, AUG. 21 - AUBURN, WA - Feb. 10, 2011 – A 29-race stakes schedule featuring five doubleheaders and the 76th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (GIII) has been announced for the 2011 meeting at Emerald Downs.

THREE MILE WINNERS APPEAR AS TRAINING BEGINS FOR 16th SEASON OF RACING AT EMERALD DOWNS - AUBURN, WA. - Feb. 8, 2011 - Shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, the 5-year-old mare Easily Spotted became the first horse to set foot on the racetrack in 2011. The striking chestnut, trained by Sharon Ross and ridden by Tricia Nix, was one of 230 horses on the grounds as trainers began to gear-up their charges for Emerald Downs' 82-day meeting that begins Friday, April 15.

QUARTER HORSE RACING AT EMERALD DOWNS IN 2011 - AUBURN, WA. - Feb. 4, 2011 - Emerald Downs has announced plans to offer a limited number of quarter horse races at its 82-day race meeting that runs April 15 to Sept. 25.

The Horses Are Back at Emerald Downs Tuesday, February 8 - Auburn, WA - Feb. 2, 2011 - Thoroughbreds are returning to Emerald Downs! Training for the 2011 Emerald Downs meeting begins Tuesday, Feb. 8, and continues daily as horses prepare for the 16th season of racing at Emerald Downs. Training hours are 8:00am to 12:30pm.

Grade 2 Winner Preachinatthebar Relocated to Pulse Ranches - Feb, 2, 2011 - Multiple graded stakes winner Preachinatthebar, who won the 2004 Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and two other graded stakes among his four black-type victories, has been relocated from Jim and Marilyn Helzer's JEH Stallion Station in Oklahoma to Robert, Phyllis and Todd Pulse's Pulse Ranches in Union Gap for the 2011 breeding season.

SERVICES SET FOR FORMER JOCKEY VINCE BARNESE - Funeral services for former Northwest jockey Vince Barnes are 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Forest Lawn Memorial in Hollywood, Calif. Wife Julie, daughter Krystal and son Casey survive Barnese. Barnese, 48, rode 32 winners at Longacres in 1988 and 1989, and finished third aboard Chan’s Dragon in the ’88 Longacres Mile. He also rode 14 winners at the inaugural Emerald Downs meet in 1996. A native of Van Nuys, Calif., Barnese rode his first winner in 1982 at Northlands Park. - Emerald Downs photo: Former jockey Vince Barnese

JOCKEYS RECEIVE MOUNT FEE INCREASE AT EMERALD DOWNS - January 25, 2011 - The Jockeys’ Guild and the Washington HBPA have reached an agreement on a new mount fee schedule at Emerald Downs which will take effect when the track opens its 2011 racing season on April 15.

FORMER EMERALD DOWNS TRAINER MARK GLATT ENJOYING LIFE AT THE GREAT RACE PLACE - Auburn, WA - January 25, 2011 - It seems like every week we write about Northwest connections accomplishing something good at Santa Anita Park. Whether it's WTBA Sales graduate Smiling Tiger missing by a nose in the Malibu Stakes, David and Jill Heerensperger’s Bourbon Bay crushing foes in the San Marcos Stakes, or Washington Hall of Fame trainer Kathy Walsh saddling consecutive winners on opening day, locals continue to fare well in Arcadia.

Upscale horse rehab center in Redmond mixes sports and science - Jan. 21, 2011 - Pegasus Training and Rehab Center in Redmond is part horse research hospital, part equine Club Med. The vast facility combines heart surgeon Mark Dedomenico's two passions: medical research and Thoroughbreds.

The state Horse Racing Commission may have no money for four tracks in Eastern Washington - WALLA WALLA - Jan. 21, 2011 - Faced with a steep drop in operating funds, the Washington Horse Racing Commission has told track managers in Walla Walla, Dayton, Waitsburg and Kennewick that money may not be available this year, or in coming years, for their tracks.

Washington HBPA Seeking Donations for Auction to Benefit Emerald Downs Backstretch Clubhouse - January 21, 2011 - The Washington HBPA is seeking donations for an auction that will be held on Friday, April 1 to benefit the Emerald Downs Backstretch Clubhouse. Any type of donation is welcome. Racing, non racing, Small, large or monetary!

Trainer Vann Belvoir faring well in Northern California, Emerald Downs - Jan. 19 2011 - Vann Belvoir has won 110 races and finished third and second in the trainers’ standings the last two seasons at Emerald Downs.

And while Belvoir hopes to make an impact at the 82-day meeting that begins Friday, April 15, he isn’t predicting a training title in 2011. He will have a presence, for sure, bringing back familiar favorites such as stakes winners No Flies On Doodle, Peaceful Reign and Mack’s Gold Bullet. But he also plans to continue training a string in Northern California where he’s off to a fine a fine 2-1-2 record from seven starts at Golden Gate Fields.

her name is Blind Luck, but not her story - Jan. 15, 2011 - There was some luck, but definitely not blind luck, that led to Mark Dedomenico's purchase of Blind Luck, winner of the 2010 Kentucky Oaks and North America's top 3-year-old filly last year.

Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Associations Awards Banquet Set - January 14, 2011 - Nominees for Washington's year-end awards have been announced and plans are in progress for the Annual Awards Banquet, which will be held on Saturday, February 19, at Emerald Downs.

EMERALD DOWNS ANNOUNCES 82-DAY RACE MEETING IN 2011 - AUBURN, Wa. - Jan. 13, 2011 – Emerald Downs will begin its 16th season of live racing on Friday, April 15, the track announced Thursday.

WA-BRED DISTAFFERS STILL HITTING HARD IN CALIFORNIA REBA IS TOPS PASSES TROOPER SEVEN ON EARNINGS LIST - AUBURN, WA - Jan. 3, 2011 – Although she didn’t win, Washington-bred Reba Is Tops ran another big race Sunday at Santa Anita to finish third in the $100,000 Monrovia Stakes (GIII) on the hillside turf course.

WA-BREDS RUN ONE-TWO IN 38K ALW AT GOLDEN GATE - AUBURN, Wash. - Dec. 13, 2010 – Gadget Queen accomplished her latest milestone as a pair of consistent Washington-bred fillies and mares dominated an open six-furlong allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 10.

FATHOMS REVENGE ENJOYING HAPPY RETIREMENT - Benton City, WA - Dec. 7, 2010 - Owner-breeder Dan Newport reports that former Emerald Downs runner Fathoms Revenge is enjoying the good life at the family farm in Benton City, Washington.

Washington-bred Reba Is Tops prevails at Hollywood Park - Nov. 29, 2010 - The amazing 6-year-old Washington-bred mare Reba Is Tops continued her remarkable roll by capturing the $61,000 Raise Your Skirts Stakes at Hollywood Park on Friday, Nov. 26. The turf sprint specialist improved her career record to 12-6-3 from 26 starts with earnings of $361,229.

Racing, slots seen feeding off each other - November 11, 2010 - Bobby Soper, president and chief executive officer of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, sees synergy between horse racing and slot machine play at the Plains Township casino.

Washington-bred Atta Boy Roy will fire a big shot in the $2-million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint - Washington-bred Atta Boy Roy is listed at 12-1 on the morning line, but trainer Valorie Lund is confident the 5-year-old speedster will fire a big shot Saturday in the $2-million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Valorie Lund makes big gamble on Atta Boy Roy for Breeders' Cup Sprint - Oct. 27, 2010 - And after driving him from Arizona to Louisville in early April, she is 11 days from her dream of showing the world how good the Washington-bred horse.

CREDIT: Reed Palmer Photography, Churchill Downs PHOTO 1 (RoywithLund): Churchill Downs (Grade II) winner Atta Boy Roy and jockey Calvin Borel were accompanied by trainer Valorie Lund on a pony as the Breeders' Cup Sprint contender walked to the track prior to a four-furlong workout on Friday.

CARRY ON JOHN PREVAILS IN FAST TIME IN SATURDAY FEATURE AT EMERALD DOWNS - AUBURN, Wash. (Sept. 25, 2010) – Carry On John swept to the lead past mid-stretch and held off Siberian Cocktail and Dress Code for a three-quarter-length victory Saturday in the $15,100 SMSUA Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

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