A day at Emerald Downs horse racetrack, for Crosscut
September 2, 2023

Fans cheer as thoroughbred horses Blowing Bayou (center) and American Royalty (left) race toward the finish line during a race at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Neither of the horses placed in the top three.
A person holds the race program filled with information about horses racing throughout the day at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023.

For Crosscut, I spent a day at the races at the Emerald Downs horse racetrack in Auburn, Washington. The story was about how the track had received $1.1 million in pandemic aid from the federal government. I always love a freeform assignment like this, finding moments as they happen. It was such a pleasure to wander around the stands and behind the scenes in the stables. 

Thanks to Genna for the call on this, my first assignment for Crosscut!

Jockey Alex V. Anaya rides quarterhorse Fast Movin Freight in the ring paddock prior to the second race of the day at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Fast Movin Freight came in second in the 440-yard race, which had a $57,031 purse.
Rafael Orozco, 15, (right) holds niece Natalie Rosales, 2, both of Hermiston, Oregon, while watching a race at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. The two are related to a horse trainer whose horses were racing later in the day.
Jorge Rosales, of Enumclaw, Wash., pets thoroughbred horse Orczy, which is one of the 36 horses Rosales works with as a trainer in the stables at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Rosales said he grew up around horseracing and started working behind the scenes cleaning stables before working up to being a horse groom and eventually a trainer.
Horseracing-themed pins adorn the outfit of track bugler Dan Harrington as he prepares to play music to signify that the sixth race of the day will be starting soon at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Harrington says this is his 27th year bugling at Emerald Downs. He plays music before each race to signify that races will soon be starting.
Thoroughbred horses Blazen Grazen (left) and Peter Flies run toward the finish line during a race at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Blazen Grazen, with jockey Alex M. Cruz, pulled ahead of Peter Flies to win the race, which had a $16,500 purse.
The starting gate stands empty between races at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023.
Jill Dugger (left) and fiancé Lance Knaevelsrud, of Bellevue, Wash., look at the racing program between races at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Dugger, who is a rodeo barrel racer, says, "This is our first time [coming to a race] this year." She says she looks statistics and bloodlines of the horses to inform her bets.
Ciara Lozier (center left), of Tacoma, Wash., sister Harli Lozier (center right, with sunglasses), of Burien, Wash., and family friend Al Lofton (right, with cowboy hat), of Bellevue, Wash., watch as horses cross the finish line during a race at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Asked why they came to the races this day, Ciara Lozier said, "It's something to do. It's been seven years since I've been to the races."
Jorge Rosales, of Enumclaw, Wash., is a horse trainer who works with 36 horses in the stables at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. Rosales said he grew up around horseracing and started working behind the scenes cleaning stables before working up to being a horse groom and eventually a trainer.
A horse exercises with an automated hot walker or horse walker in the stable area behind the scenes at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023.
A sign reads "Slow / Horse X-ing" along a road in the stable area of the Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023.
Thoroughbred horse Fantastic Day (right), with jockey Carlos Montalvo, leads the pack across the finish line (center) after starting the race approximately 10 lengths in the rear at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, USA, on Sun., Aug. 20, 2023. The horse is one of 36 trained by Jorge Rosales of Enumclaw, Wash. The purse for this six-furlong race was $21,000.
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