Emerald Downs Race Track · Auburn

Year Opened

1996

Hours

Live racing season; year-round simulcast

Age Restriction

18+

Property Type

Racetrack & Racebook

Regulator

Washington State Gambling Commission

Owner

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Wagering

Pari-mutuel & Racebook

Loyalty

Emerald Rewards

About Emerald Downs Race Track

Emerald Downs Race Track is a thoroughbred racing facility at 2300 Emerald Downs Drive in Auburn, Washington, opened in 1996 and owned by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. The property is Washington’s premier live horseracing venue and the home of the Washington Racing Hall of Fame. Live thoroughbred meets run through the summer, and the property operates as a racebook and simulcast hub year-round, taking pari-mutuel wagers on major North American tracks.

The Washington State Gambling Commission regulates pari-mutuel wagering at the facility, with a minimum wagering age of 18. The track shares Muckleshoot Tribe ownership with Muckleshoot Indian Casino, which sits a short drive northeast and complements the racing experience with slots and table games that Emerald Downs does not offer.

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Emerald Downs Race Track

Auburn, Washington

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Emerald Downs Race Track in Auburn, Washington

Racing and Wagering on Offer

The headline product at Emerald Downs is live thoroughbred horseracing. The summer meet runs from late spring through late summer, with cards typically scheduled Friday through Sunday and on holiday Mondays. The racebook and simulcast lounge operate year-round, taking pari-mutuel wagers on major tracks across North America including Saratoga, Del Mar, Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, and the Triple Crown races.

There are no slot machines, no table games, and no on-property sportsbook at Emerald Downs. The Washington tribal retail sportsbook framework does not extend to the racing facility, so traditional sports wagering happens elsewhere. For visitors wanting to combine horse betting with slots and table games, the natural pairing is the short drive over to Muckleshoot Indian Casino, also Muckleshoot-owned, or south to Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

★ Editor take

Washington's home for live horseracing, owned by Muckleshoot

Emerald Downs is the only major live thoroughbred meet in Washington, and it benefits from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe's long-term ownership and investment. The summer meet, the Longacres Mile, and the simulcast room all give Pacific Northwest racing fans a real home. Pair a visit with a stop at Muckleshoot Indian Casino for slots and table games to round out the day, since Emerald Downs itself does not offer either.

Compare Auburn venues → Muckleshoot Indian Casino

Marcus Holloway

Editor, Tribal Gaming

Emerald Rewards and Promotions

The Emerald Rewards program is the track’s loyalty channel for regular bettors. Sign-up is free and earns rewards on pari-mutuel wagering volume, with member-only access to selected events, including Washington Racing Hall of Fame inductions and stakes-day hospitality. Promotions pages on the property’s website rotate offers tied to the race calendar.

Amenities and Visit Practicalities

The property carries a full track-and-grandstand feature set: trackside seating, simulcast lounge, dining outlets, valet and self-parking, and a year-round events calendar. The detected feature set in our directory also includes an arcade for younger visitors on family days. There is no on-site hotel; lodging is in Auburn proper or in nearby Federal Way and Kent. Social channels span Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and YouTube, with the Emerald Downs YouTube channel posting selected race replays.

Location and Regulation

The track is at GPS 47.324, -122.238 off SR-167 in Auburn, with easy access from I-5 and I-405. Main phone is (253) 288-7000 with a toll-free 888-931-8400 line. The Washington State Gambling Commission regulates pari-mutuel wagering at the facility. Sportsbook activity in Washington is legal under the tribal retail framework; Emerald Downs operates as a pari-mutuel racing facility rather than a sportsbook.