Emerald Downs To Explore Expanded Quarter Horse Racing In 2027

According to an article by T. D. Thornton published today on Thoroughbred Daily News, Emerald Downs officials plan to explore expanding Quarter Horse racing at the Washington racetrack in 2027 following the successful reception of AQHA Challenge races conducted during the recently completed meet.

Emerald Downs President Phil Ziegler told the Washington Horse Racing Commission Friday that recruiting Quarter Horse horsemen will be an offseason priority as the track looks for ways to strengthen field sizes and its overall racing product next season.

Emerald Downs hosted three American Quarter Horse Association Championship Challenge races during its 2026 meet. According to Ziegler, the races produced solid wagering and participation while also proving popular with fans.

“I think it's because of the success we had with the Challenge races,” Ziegler said. “We ran them last in the card. They handled really well, great participation, and the fans seemed to really love it because they're fast, they come right down that stretch.”

The response has prompted track management to investigate whether a larger Quarter Horse presence could become part of the 2027 Emerald Downs meet.

“I think that's something we look hard at for next year to see if there's a market for those Quarter Horse folks to come here and help with the horse population and the product that we put out—definitely something we're going to pursue,” Ziegler said.

Washington Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association President Pat LePley expressed support for the possibility of additional Quarter Horse racing.

“People have talked about the Quarter Horse racing, which is something that could be a real positive for our race days and our race cards,” LePley said.

Washington Horse Racing Commission Chairman Doug Moore also indicated there appears to be interest among Quarter Horse horsemen in the region. Moore said he spoke with horsemen while attending racing at Tillamook in Oregon during August and was repeatedly asked whether Emerald Downs might expand its Quarter Horse program.

“There is a lot of interest,” Moore said. “I got asked several times from people wanting to know if you were going to look at running Quarter Horses. Those guys are very interested. I think you'd get support.”

The potential expansion comes as Emerald Downs works to address declining Thoroughbred field sizes. The track conducted 395 races with 2,516 starters in 2026, compared with 418 races and 3,074 starters in 2025.

Ziegler said 61 percent of the track's races this season had fields of six horses or fewer, compared with only 28 percent in 2025. Emerald Downs began the meet racing Saturdays and Sundays before adding Fridays following Memorial Day, but later eliminated its scheduled August Friday programs because of the available horse population.

Despite smaller fields, Ziegler said average total handle in 2026 remained nearly 40 percent higher than 2024 levels. Purse money available per starter also increased approximately 20 percent, from an average of $2,088 per start in 2025 to $2,498 this year.

Overall purses declined approximately two percent, but Emerald Downs conducted three fewer racing dates than in 2025. Ziegler said average purses per racing day actually increased four percent.

Adding more Quarter Horse races could therefore serve two purposes for Emerald Downs in 2027—providing additional horses for its racing program while offering a product that track officials believe has already demonstrated wagering and fan appeal.

No specific number of Quarter Horse races or proposed dates for 2027 were announced on Friday. Those details are expected to be part of offseason discussions between Emerald Downs, horsemen, and the Washington Horse Racing Commission.

Located in Auburn, Washington, Emerald Downs is the state's only remaining commercial Thoroughbred racetrack.

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