A visit to the Emerald Downs race track is the perfect way to add some thrills to your Seattle vacation. Here you’ll find highest stakes in the Pacific Northwest and incredible thoroughbred horse racing. You don’t need to know a lot about horses, breeding, or racing in order to spend a fun day at the track. Gambling is only part of the experience, though some visitors take their bets very seriously.

Located in Auburn, Washington, south of Seattle, Emerald Downs is open for business from April through September every year. This coincides with the sunniest months in Washington, so don’t expect much of that gray sky weather you associate with Seattle. These sunny months offer a variety of events and festivals, but one of the most beloved, especially for gamblers, is the horse races.

Visitors don’t only come for the horse races, but for the state of the art facility. Emerald Downs is a six-level facility, providing excellent viewing of the one-mile track. For those visitors who aren’t as interested in the horses, there is a restaurant and clubhouse on the fifth floor. If you’re really looking to splurge, another dining option is the exclusive Turf Club.

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There are many options for seating at the Emerald Downs Race Track. Most of the spectators will be seated in the Track Level on the second floor, where seats are occupied on a first-come, first-served basis. The third level is called the Grandstand, and here there is outdoor box seating. Tickets cost only marginally more for the reserved seats in the Grandstand. No matter where you sit, when that gun goes off, the thrill of the race will make you glad you took the time to visit Emerald Downs race track.