April 17, 2025 • 37 mins
Getting ever closer to Emerald Downs Opening Day, Sunday, April 27! First race goes at 1:50 pm. Horse players take note of the low 12% takeout on Pick-3 wagers plus another year of penny breakage – both direct higher payouts on winning bets. The Snoqualmie Casino sports book adds horse racing action to its menu beginning this Saturday, April 19. wns.com. Joining Joe and Vince this week is veteran jockey Francisco Duran. Hear his interesting career journey of not growing up in a horse or racing family. With many good seasons behind him, including success at Emerald Downs, he’s ready for the new meeting to begin. Sports shorts and trivia on Horseracing NW.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Muchos.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It doesn't matter if you love craps, blackjack machines or
dining on the finest Asian, American and Salish cuisines. It
doesn't matter what you do or where you're coming from Mucos.
What you do is all at Muckleshoe, an easy drive
from wherever you are. All roads lead to Muckleshoe.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Mucosuit horse racing northwest from Emerald Downs. It is April seventeenth,
(00:57):
so we are getting close to opening down Hedy for
twenty twenty five. Joe with you and Vince Broun.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Here, Yes, ten days from opening day Sunday, April twenty seventh.
First post that one fifty entries will be on Wednesday,
the twenty thirds, So that night you can start looking
at Emerald Downs entries. Well you get them on Equabase
or the racing form or whatever. And you know, just
talking Joe like you have all spring. It looks like
(01:24):
we're headed for a good meet field size wise and
trainer wise and jockey wise and fan wise. So it's
shaping up great.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, No, we're going to have a really good season,
improved over the last few Yeah, we're going to have
more horses here at Emerald Downs. We've got a bunch
of Northern California trainers in and some returning jockeys and
some newer jockeys, some new old faces like our guest
today on horse Racing Northwest jockey Francisco Durant. He's going
(01:53):
to join us in the second segment, so good to
have him back. He left here on a high note.
We'll go over there a little bit later. But yeah,
looking forward to a great season at Emerald Downs. Opening day,
as Vince said on Sunday the twenty seventh, and that's
the only day of racing that week. And then the
next day of racing.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Vince, Saturday May third, which is of course Kentucky Derby Day,
So we'll have live racing at Emerald Downs in full
card simulcasting. You know that Churchill Downs undercard for Derby,
next to the Breeders' Cup. It's one of the finest
days of racing there is. And I think, what do
we say, We're opening at seven thirty that morning.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Yeah, gates open at seven thirty on both Friday May
second and Saturday May third, mostly due to the first
Churchill Downs race each day is eight.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Am, right May I think they'll have thirteen races and
then cap by the Kentucky Derby one horse. I guess
we'll be seeing on that. It sounds like Torpedo Anna.
She won the Apple Blossom last week and then afterwards
Ken McPeak said they were pointing to come back in
three weeks in the La Troyenne on Derby Day. So
that'll ad a little excitement to an already busy day.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, you get a horse like her that just how
do you outrun her? Anyway the race sets up, she's
defending Horse of the Year an off a great start
in twenty twenty five. Hey, there's a good deal out
there that closes at midnight tonight. If you are listening
on Thursday, the day we are doing the podcast, April seventeenth,
(03:25):
this deal closes at midnight tonight. You need to do
it online. It's an excellent deal for Emerald Down's at
ten des fifty five dollars gets you a pass for
all fifty one days of racing, so you get in
for you know, just over a dollar for fifty one
days fifty five bucks. But included in that is twenty
(03:48):
extra individual passes, so that is you know, it's a
ten dollars admission, So that's an extra two hundred dollars
value right there, So you need to do that online
at Emerald down dot com by midnight tonight Thursday, April seventeenth.
Fifty five dollars for your season passes for your one
(04:09):
season pass, and you can do multiple of those if
you want as well. But the twenty extra pass offer
will end tonight, so keep that in mind for some
great deal to bring family and friends out to Emerald Downs.
A couple other things I've got here, Vince. The snow
Qualmi Casino out near North Bend. They're going to have
(04:30):
full card simulcasting of tracks around the country beginning this Saturday,
the nineteenth. So the snow Qualm Casino out there on
the East Side is going to take horse racing and
they're going to be open seven days a week for that,
and we are going to be closed on Monday and
Tuesday after our second weekend, so May fifth and sixth,
(04:52):
Emerald Downs will be closed that Monday and Tuesday, and
for the following Monday and Tuesday, no full card simulcasting
here in the building on Monday and Tuesdays for the
rest of the year, beginning May fifth and sixth.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
You know what, though, some of us have phone accounts
and adw so we'll figure out a way to get it.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Definitely. Well, Turf Paradise will be over by then, which
is of course a very popular signal for us here
in Washington, and not a lot of big tracks run
on Monday and Tuesday, but nonetheless that's the schedule there.
We're going to have our magnetic calendars on opening day
April twenty seventh, so you get those when you come in.
(05:35):
Lost Marg's Cafe is our backstretch cafe. Now that's open
till three pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and it's going
to be open later of course on live racing days. Yep.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
I've been spending a lot of time back there. Great edition,
Joe really really a nice atmosphere, oh yeah, just an
outstanding menu, great food. Lost Marg's Cafe is our Stable
area cafe, and again that's open to the public. Just
parked there on the west side of the building and
enter through the doors there and head on into the cafe.
(06:08):
Let's see what else we got here. Twelve percent on
pick threes. That's an outstanding figure looking forward to that.
That's new this year. That's great, and I'll be taking
advantage of that, and a lot of people will. That's great,
lower takeout on a popular bet. And of course we
have the rolling ones here.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Rolling pick threes. Twelve percent takeout, really low within the industry.
We're going to have a jackpot pick six again this year.
Penny breakage as well, and I think we're the only
state out of Kentucky still that has penny breakage.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I haven't noticed any other one except Kentucky in Washington.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Yeah, so that's you know, again through the math, nine
dollars and seventy nine cent payoff used to revert to
nine dollars and sixty cents. That's right now, it's nine
to seventy nine. And it doesn't sound like that much,
but it all adds up. What's the old saying, dim here,
dim there? Pretty soon you're talking real money. Well yeah,
(07:05):
and the more you bet, the more it affects your
profit motive. Okay. You know, the Emerald Downs Media Guide
is just chocked with information. We've been on it since
nineteen ninety six. On our stats, and Vince, I think
you just about add a little bit of tidbit every year.
Certainly you update what happened the previous season, but that's
(07:27):
available for free online. It is.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
It's up at Emeraldowns dot com. It's a lot of
fun looking at all the old stakes histories and all.
Like I was going to look up how many career
wins at Emerald Downs. Francisco Duran, our guest has it
was right there. So yeah, one thing like you and
and Gary Doherty when this track opened in nineteen ninety six,
you established great record keeping. So the database has been there,
(07:52):
and it's amazing how many tracks don't have that. You know,
all their historical numbers.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Right, and we've got numbers in a lot of areas
that other tracks don't have numbers. Sure too. Yeah, you
like your numbers as well, and you've done a super job.
So go to Emeraldowns dot com. You can download the
media guide and just brush up on everything that's been
Emerald Downs is. This is our thirtieth season here in Auburn,
(08:19):
coming up April twenty seventh. All right, let's see Tom
Harris is back as track announcer. That's great. Tom is
certainly popular here in Washington. He's called it gosh. He's
called a lot of tracks, including regular stints. Of course,
at Playfair and Yakama Meadows in several years. This will
(08:41):
be his third straight year at Emerald Downs. Read Palmer
Photography always good to have them involved too.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Read best in the business. And I've been at a
lot of tracks and you Read and Aaron are amazing.
All those pictures you see of Emerald Downs horses, jockeys, trainers, owners,
that's all compliments of their fine work. And you make
your own breaks. You look out, lookout in the infield.
Sometimes you know, they don't just take the standard winter
circle shot, which are fine, but they're hustling and getting
(09:10):
great stuff.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah. And how often do we go to their backlog
of pictures on our.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Only about ten times a week.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Yeah, Okay. Promotions, regular promotions will be back as well.
All the promotions are listed at Emeraldowns dot com as well.
We'll have some big crowds on a lot of those
promotional days. Training Day, We've been doing our Training Day
video for a few weeks. I've been doing it on Tuesday.
That'll switch after opening week because we're going to go
(09:41):
to the track being dark on Tuesdays. But Training Day
is available at YouTube. On YouTube, go to type in
Emerald Downs Training Day in this past week we did
get a couple of comments from some new old jockeys
like Francisco Durant and Julian Kutan both joined us. They're
(10:01):
part of our this week's Training Day update. So Kentucky Derby,
well just a few few weeks away now all the
major stakes races for three year olds over the winter
in the spring are in the books and looks like
Journalism is going to be the favorite in this year's
Kentucky Derby. The Sanate Nita Derby winner.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
No doubt about it. He's got I think the two
of the three athos you go buy buyers. He's he's
been fast and he's been good. He overcame a little
bit of a tight running there to win the Sannita
Derby going away five horse fields, not quite like twenty,
but he's been tested and yeah, he's a deserved favorite.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, he's he's been real, real impressive and a lot
of speed as usual in a huge field. Looks like
a lot of speed in the Derby. So he'll get
a pace to run out as well, a little bigger
field than he's used to running at Santa Anita.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Oh for sure. You know, and you know it's a
mile and the quarter. None of them have gone that far.
But you know, just watching him run, he sure looks
like he wants, you know, every bit of the mile
and a quarter. Just the way he's been finishing. It's
not a curling I believe correct.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, Okay, all right, Well there's some news and notes.
We'll have a little bit more up on new jockeys
and trainers in our next segment after we speak with
jockey Francisco Duran, and our final segment as usual sports
shorts and trivia selections. It might be a little bit
(11:34):
light on that this week, as we are. I had
a bad one a couple of weeks ago. Let's forget
about that and move on. It's time to take a break.
We'll be right back with jockey Francisco Duran on horse
racing Northwest.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It doesn't matter if you love craps, blackjack machines or
dining on the finest Asian, American and Salis quiz. It
doesn't matter what you do or where you're coming from.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Macco Soon.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
What you do is all at Muckleshoe, an easy drive
from wherever you are, All roads lead to Muckleshoe. Mucosuit
two more real.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Jewel on the outside of attracted, attracted angles out trying
to take a crack at five oh cocktail in the
final eighth of a mile. Five O Cocktail goes on willingly,
happy on the inside and attracted, attacking on both sides.
Five out Cocktail. Here's happy, grabbing the rail and taking
the lead, and it will be happy in Francisco.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Durant, Now, that was a race at Santa Anita this
past January, and the horse happy, It's off to a
pretty good start in his career. He won that day
at the great race place, and his rider was one
Francisco Duran who joins us here on horse Racing Northwest Francisco.
Great to have you here.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Thank you for having me here.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You bet, you bet? How about winning a race at
sant Anita. That had to be fun.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Yeah, that was probably something you take off your bucket list.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Yeah, because you've spent so much time in northern California,
and of course we've seen you here at Emerald Downs
in several different seasons. But boy, looking to the south
with all the great riders that have gone through there
over the years, that it had to be a bucket
list thing. That was that was a lot of fun.
It was it was happy was the name of the horse.
(13:32):
Vince and Francisco has had some good moments here at
Emerald Downs. But you know some of his career numbers.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
He has at the latest numbers one six and fifty
nine career wins, one hundred and twenty three right here
at Emerald Downs. Looking up a couple of the stakes
winners Posse Power and missing you both for Frank Lucarelli.
Missing you won the Emerald Derby here in twenty ten,
and just chatting with Francisco before we went on here.
(14:02):
Your background is kind of interesting. You're from Los Angeles,
no background in racing, but you went to Frank Garza
was the gentleman, had a racing academy and kind of
that's how you learned how to ride race horses.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
Yeah, it was a life changing experience, you could say,
because I've none of my family members were horse people.
A neighbor of mine met him, said hey, you want
to meet this guy, and sure, okay, and then he
explained to me the horse racing world, you could say.
(14:34):
And then after I thought about it as sure, and
then I got into it and I just gave everything
up to follow that career, and I've been blessed ever since.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Nice. How about like the first time you went out
there around horses. There are these big old things, and
I mean there had to be a little bit anxiety.
What do you remember kind of the early lessons there?
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Yes, I mean I didn't grow up around horses, so
I was nervous around them and got over it and
enjoyed it even more and more and felt it was
something for me to do.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yeah, and a rewarding career. Francisco has a big family.
We'll talk about that too. But you kind of gravitated
toward northern California to get going.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Yes, that started me off on a good note, you
could say, as an apprenticed writer. I was a third
leading apprentice writer in the country. I got to go
to the Eclipse Award and it was just an awesome
accomplishment that I never thought i'd get to do.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Yeah, that's great. Early on, what did you feel like
you were good at as a jockey or you know,
you know I can do that pretty well. This I've
mastered a little bit. My agent tells me I do
this well. The trainers say, was there some things? There
came a little bit more natural than others and other
things he had to work on.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
You could see people see me coming out of the
gates better than some other jockeys. I've always been known
to shoot out of the gates really good, become a
position in the front, rough pace, and especially here. This
track favors a lot of speed, and I know I
(16:26):
can do good here.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
That's good. You know, it's funny Vince his last day
he was here back in twenty sixteen. I believe it
was he Francisco was scheduled to leave and you know,
it's in the middle of the meat sort of July,
but had some plans elsewhere. He won four races on
his last day here, including the final three on the card.
You must have been kicking yourself that why am I leaving? Now?
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Yeah, it was a little a little bit of regret,
but it was personal reasons. Yeah, and I'm just excited
to be back here.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Yeah, I was going to say, you, you know, we
all we've been talking the last few weeks about the
lot of the Northern California horsemen are coming up here
because of the situation down there, and a lot of
the jocks too. We've seen you, Ronald Rishard, Julian Couton.
Is it going to be a little difficult to get
going again up here when you come into a new place,
(17:22):
or how does that kind of work for a jockey.
They've seen you right up here before, so maybe it
a little be a little bit easier for you.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
I don't want to say it's going to be easier.
It's going to be competitive. You know, it's going to
more jockeys, more horses, trainers. Uh, you just got to
get there, get out there and get lucky and be
competitive and prove your worth.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Brent Harmon is going to be your agent, and he's
been here for a while too, so and so is Francisco.
So I'm sure you're you're getting yourself known in several
barns around here.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Yeah. I think so. Brent is a very good agent,
very likable guy. He knows the stats. And I have
a history with some of these guys here, with other
trainers that have written before, and they seem to welcome
me back. So I think that's a positive thing.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, and maybe put a little spur in Lucarelli's mind there, Vince,
As you mentioned, both the Francisco Steaks wins here we're
for Luke Arella.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Yeah, and you have a history with Tim mccanna, who's
got an increased presencist here this year. You've written a
lot for Tim in Northern California. I know you've gotten
on some for Blaine right in the past. So guys
like Tomayo Trahio that are new up from Northern cal
you you should have a pretty good good chance up here.
I think of making a go.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
I think so I've written for all those guys and
working horses for everybody here that I can, and I
think I think I'll get started on a really positive note.
Just go out there and do my work and go
for it.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Yeah. Talking to Francisco earlier this week, we did that
brief interview that's on our training day video. He's just
real enthusiastic and optimistic. You know, it's that time of year,
you know, leading up to a new meat. Everybody's unbeaten
and all that. But you know a little bit about
the Bay area, boy, you spend a lot of years there,
(19:19):
and you know Bay Meadows closed, you know, fifteen years
ago or so, and now Golden Gate and then you know,
Vincent and I made a trip down to Pleasant and
I hadn't been there and went there in January. What
a nice little town and track, and it's just we're
getting a little negative here. But it's just really a
shame what's happened in the Bay Area Francisco, and you're
(19:41):
easily can attest to that.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Yeah, we're all sadden about that, but we can't be
We have to move forward and be positive about the
new opportunities that we'll get here in Washington and rolled
Downs and all the trainers that I spoken to that
are coming up here are excited to do good and
(20:05):
they feel happy to be here as well.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
He got me off the host off that negativity run
there real quick, very nice. Got it right back on
the positive, didn't he.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah, talking about you and your family, it sounds like
you've got a little hook up here on the backstretch
for now, but you'd like to settle roots.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Down up here in the Northwest.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
Sounds like, Yeah, I really thought about it, and I
think this is the next best place for me to
finish my career when I think the time is right.
I've always loved Emerald Downs, I really have. I just
wish they had more racing dates and maybe they will.
Who see how the smeat turns out, and maybe it
could be a more positive for that. But I love
(20:49):
living here. It's a great place to be, one of
the best places in the country. So you know, I'm
excited to stay here.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, that's that's excellent. Yeah, you've you've spent some summers
up here, so you know what's going on. And Vince
alluded to your family and your one son, is it Johnny.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
That's fifteen years old? I five nine. I believe. Yeah,
it's hard to believe.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Yeah, boy, And you've got how many children? Four? Four children? Yeah,
you've you've got.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
They started early.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Yeah. Yeah, that's great. And uh, your family going to
be up here this summer.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
My oldest children are going to stay in the Bay Area.
My youngest Johnny, he's going to be living with us. So, yeah,
finish high school here.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
That's great. Yeah. Just you've seen a lot over your
you know, career, which is getting it's involved. Now you know,
you're not a you're quite away from your apprentice here.
And what are some of the jockeys that you know
come to mind real quick that you've ridden with, that
you know, have impressed you you.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Uh, one of them is h of course Russell Bays.
Bobby Gonzalez, he's one of my favorite writers that I
rode with. He taught me a lot, especially coming out
of the gates.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
He was good at that too.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, yes, he was. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
One time, I just I begged him show me, show me,
practically crying because I knew I could do it, but
I just so he taught me, and then after I
ask him to do other things. Now, I'm not going
to teach you anything because you're beating me now.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Yeah, Bobby Gonzalez, Yeah, uh, he was a master on
the front end. He really was. Yeah. Russell Bays has
been retired several years now, but Russell was just a
great competitor out there, and of course he built his
business up and well geez the rest of Yeah, And
(22:48):
it must have been satisfying when you could you could
beat him in a race because he rode the favorite
a lot.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
You know, that's a that's a good feeling knowing that
you can beat him right there at the wire by
a nose. And it is good because after the race
are going to jocks room. He says, oh, congratulations, Cisco,
good job, you know, very sportsmanship. And I admire him
about that.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Yeah, Russell's got boy into just incredible numbers behind him.
What a career, and of course the Bays family has
a big, long history here in Washington especially. But Francisco
getting ready for the new meeting in yeah, entries next Wednesday,
so we're not that far off now.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
No, it's it's great, yeah racing, because we haven't raced
since the closed pleasanton December.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so okay, Well, we're looking forward to
a good season here at Emerald Downs because of you
and so many people from Northern cal that are relocated
up here. We're going to have more horses per race,
which you know, the better is like that the payoffs
get a little bit higher the more horses you have,
and the odds get a little bit better. It's just
(23:58):
more competitive all the way around. The riders got another
chance to ride, you know, when there's more horses in
the race, and Francisco going to put his veteran ability
to use and make some people notice that don't know
you as well, because it's been a few years since
(24:18):
you've been here. But you know, it's cool that there's
so many Northern California people that do know you well.
So hey, good to have you and it's just going
to be a strong jockey colony. Thanks for coming in
and we wish you all for having me. Yeah, Francisco
Duran joining us here on horse racing Northwest and he's
(24:39):
going to apply his trade at Emerald Downs this year.
And Vince. We've got just a lot of you know
names on the work tab this week of new trainers. Uh,
you know, there's a list, a pretty long list, so
you know we're looking forward to some new horses and
new new names.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, just a few of them, you know, and these
ones have anywhere from a few too many horses. Ruby
Thomas got a chance to talk to her yesterday. She
suffered a broken wrist the day before they shipped up here,
but she's good, she's doing great. Her son Jamie's got
a big barn. Gary Grinder, a longtime trainer down in
northern California. Jose Puentees, Jackie Navarre, who's significant significant other
(25:22):
is Steve Fisher, who we all know from right training
up here. Jesus Ramos, Horge Meravilla. We've talked about a
seed through Tomo and Victor Treheo recently, so yeah, it's
quite a strong contingent of Northern California people, and we're
hoping that can help in the handle, going down to
Southern Cal and Northern Cal people, and see, I know
(25:43):
those those I'm familiar with those worsemen, so it should help.
And of course with the field size too, and once
Phoenix closes Kentucky Derby weekend, we'll get the usual big
influx from down there too, and then we'll really be rolling.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
That's right. And yeah, you mentioned going against Southern Cal,
and you know Northern Cal's not involved, so we could
be in that every fifteen minutes with Southern Cal and
get pretty good exposure around the country, you know, that's
the hope.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Yeah, and certainly, and a lot of it will depend
on field size, which we have every reason to believe
will be pretty pretty strong this year.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
So we mentioned a few writers' names. You mentioned Rischard
and Couton along with Francisco and Juan Guterres has been
out there in morning.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Shilvia Amador has been here since we opened on February
twenty eighth or whatever. He's been out there every morning.
So it's great to lay down the early season work,
isn't it, Francisco? When it is the trainers that could
pay off at the entry time. You know that paid
off for Carlos Montalbo two years ago. He got here
a few weeks early and got himself into Tom Wenzel's
(26:54):
barn and that really helped him. Jennifer Whittaker's back. She's
our all time leading woman jockey. She missed all of
last year with the ankle injury. Manuel Americano, Wow, he
won the meet at Fresno. He's leading, right, He's gonna
win the title at Turf Paradise.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Ye, and he won. Didn't he win four on his
last day here last year?
Speaker 4 (27:17):
He did?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
On closing day he won four, including a stakes race,
and he finished really strong. And of course Alex Cruz.
Alex Cruise'll be going for six in a row.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
He's won five straight titles here Francisco. He's really just
found a home and he's he's driven, and of course
he's he's a guy to beat too. So those are
some of the guys. One one good good Terras are
all time leading jockeys. I mentioned his name. He's back
and he's always real fit and he's good out of
(27:48):
the gate too. You've been with long, I've.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Been for one number of years. That all the times
that I've been here.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Great guy, Yeah, yeah, he's solid. Okay, Well, once again,
thanks to Francis Go for joining us. We'll take a
short time out and we'll be back with our final
segment here on horse Racing Northwest. The Thrills of Live
Racing return to Emerald Downs Sunday, April twenty seventh. Get
ready for a spring and summer of fast horses and
(28:15):
family fun. Enter the Fabulous Hat and Best Dress Contest
on Kentucky Derby Day Saturday May third. Go to Emeraldowns
dot com to purchase tickets for all your favorite events
including Corgi Races, t Rex Races, Third of July, Fireworks Spectacular,
and Indian Relay Racing. Don't miss Opening Day Sunday, April
twenty seventh only at Emerald Downs Horse Racing Northwest. Our
(28:41):
final segment here and hope to see out at Emerald
Downs on opening Day Sunday, April twenty seventh. Day number
two is Kentucky Derby Day Saturday, May third, and Day
number three will be Saturday May tenth, and then we'll
run that Sunday May eleventh as well. Okay, thanks to
Francisco for joining us again onto some sports shorts and
(29:06):
NBA playoffs are about ready to get under way. In fact,
they are. The playing area is a way, which is
kind of interesting, a little more interest, I think, Vince.
You know, NBA TV ratings haven't been the greatest the
last couple of years. They've got a huge TV contract,
so the money is there. But with Luka Doncic on
the Lakers now along with Lebron, there is some interest there.
(29:30):
And I think their first game is Saturday night, the
Lakers anyway, so they you know, in the West, Oklahoma
City is a huge favorite sixty eight and fourteen, so
the Lakers have to go up against them to probably
get to the finals. But there's a lot of interest.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
I was, I was taken the other road when that
trade was made that Anthony Davis went to Dallas. I
really felt like they could make some noise. But you know,
that's water under the bridge now. But he was injured
a bit too. Yeah, he had twenty six points eighteen
rebounds in his first game with Dallas in the third
(30:12):
quarter and he kind of strained to groin and I
think he only played ten games and they had another
big score out for a couple of months Lively and
then of course Davis is coming back, Lively coming back,
and then Kyrie Irving's out for the year. So maybe
next year for Dallas, the team to watch in the East,
it's going to be Cleveland and Boston. They split their
(30:34):
season series two to two. Boston, of course, the NBA
defending champion. Boston was zero to two against Oklahoma City
this year, so that's something the Oklahoma City, I believe.
I just read that they set a record for margin
of victory average for an NBA season, and boy, they
(30:54):
did have a lot of blowout wins. So that young team,
the Exsonics are the best record holder in the NBA
this year. And the playoffs get underway. I don't know
if I'm going to pick a winner there, but we'll
be watching a little bit more than some people will. Vince.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Okay, you went basketball, I'll go baseball. Excuse me a
couple of this. First one probably kind of a well
known factoid. When Joe Demaggu had his fifty six game
hitting streak, who had the higher on base percentage during
those fifty six games, Joe Demadu or Ted Williams.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Boy, I did Ted Williams walk a lot, I guess incredible.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yeah, actually yeah, Demaggio's OBP during that fifty six game
hitting streak was four sixty three. Ted Williams was five
to five three. He did walk a lot, and he
had an incredible year that year too. This one is
a little I think I've heard this one before. I
hadn't seen a long time. It's kind of interesting. Who
(31:55):
is second all time? Okay, this one's got a few.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Twist to it.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Who was second all time? And hits by a left
handed hitting outfielder born on November twenty first in donorra Pennsylvania.
So second all time and hits by a left handed
hitting outfielder born on the day November twenty first in Donor, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Okay, you're not going to give me the year you
just said. Well, no, they were, they were.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Both of them were born on November twenty first. Yeah,
one of them was born I think in nineteen twenty.
The other one was born in nineteen sixty nine. The
answers to this, so.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
The guy born in sixty nine be retired about fifteen.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
So, in other words, two guys from born on November
twenty first in Pennsylvania. The town of Donor had great careers.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Who was second all time, second all time as a
left handed batter. Huh left handed batter, left handed hitting outfielder.
Born into Norma, Pennsylvania on November twenty first. The answer
is Onna Swagner.
Speaker 5 (32:56):
No.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
Ken Griffy Junior had twenty seven hundred and eighty one hits,
but also born on November twenty first, also from Donora.
Stan Musual had three thousand, six thirty hits.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
I should have got that. Yeah, he played like twenty
three years or something. Yeah, he's kind of over.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
I mean, he certainly is a huge name. But when
people talk about all time greats, boy look at his
number sometime.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Wow. Fantastic and a great guy. And he might have
never played in the World Series.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Well, Ernie Banks never did. I think Musual did in
the late forties. Yeah, you can't quote me on that.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
I'm pretty sure he did, because we all know Ernie
Banks never did because he wasn't on that sixty four
Cardinal team. I'm almost positively retired before sixty four. Anyway. Okay,
there's some good baseball as that season's underway as well. Selections.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Yeah, Stan Musial won three World Series forty two forty four,
forty six. Wow, okay, he was missed forty five while
serving in the Navy.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Oh good for stand the Man? Yeah okay, Yeah, I
had a pickup Statesman in the Wood Memorial, a little
bit of a price angle. He didn't compete well in
that race, won by Rodriguez, who was one of the
pace factors for the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Went wire to wire in the Wood.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Yeah, okay, and uh, I think we're onto trivia. You
ready fire away? Yeah? We had. This was a pretty
good question. I thought, which state based sire had a
Washington Horse of the year in his first two crops?
That's pretty impressive, right, because we had around one hundred
(34:43):
sires up until the mid nineties or so. I think
I got it? You did? You did?
Speaker 1 (34:49):
You got it?
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Vince? I posed that to him or he didn't give
it away on the show. But who is it?
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Table Run?
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Yeah? Table Runs? First crop had true so per seven,
who wasn't who was the horse of the year in
nineteen eighty and then not nineteen eighty one when he
was undefeated Mile Winter, But he was Washington Horse of
the Year in nineteen eighty but the year before that
table Hands, born a year after Trooper seven. Table Hands,
(35:20):
a full of nineteen seventy seven was, of course, that
sensational West Coast unbeatable juvenile Philly winning at Santa Anita
in Hollywood Park, Hollywood and Delmar. For sure, she was
five for five I believe in her juvenile year, and
she was Washington horse of the year. So seventy six
(35:40):
fold t P seven seventy sevenfold table Hands, first two
crops of table run. I think historians, Washington historians might
have been thinking Knight's choice. He did have in his
second and third crops Washington horses of the year hillco
Scamper in nineteen eighty five, Delicate Vine in nineteen eighty
(36:00):
didn't get any correct answers on that one, which kind
of surprises me. But what the heck? Okay, this one
revolves around Washington breeding. It is breeding season right now.
Peaceful Wings has fourteen winners at Emerald Downs, and her
fourteen winners won forty six races at this track. Share
(36:23):
the Knight. The Dam of Wasserman and a lot of
other winners share the Knight also had forty six races
one at Emerald Downs. They're both done with their progeny,
so they are in a tie for first with forty
six progeny wins at this track. Who's next on the
(36:43):
list behind those two? Not too easy, but give it
some thought and give us You know, if you just
didn't think about it too much, you'd probably get it right.
So there's a hint. Okay, thanks to Francisco for joining
us and and that we'll be with you on Thursdays
upcoming next week preview opening weekend, and on Thursdays thereafter.
(37:09):
It's the podcast for memoral Downs. It's horse racing Northwest
Muchos.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It doesn't matter if you love craps, blackjack machines or
dining on the finest Asian, American and Salish cuisines. It
doesn't matter what you do or where you're coming from Mucos.
What you do is all at Muckleshoe, an easy drive
from wherever you are. All roads lead to Muckleshoe.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Mucosuit horse racing northwest from Emerald Downs. It is April seventeenth,
(00:57):
so we are getting close to opening down Hedy for
twenty twenty five. Joe with you and Vince Broun.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Here, Yes, ten days from opening day Sunday, April twenty seventh.
First post that one fifty entries will be on Wednesday,
the twenty thirds, So that night you can start looking
at Emerald Downs entries. Well you get them on Equabase
or the racing form or whatever. And you know, just
talking Joe like you have all spring. It looks like
(01:24):
we're headed for a good meet field size wise and
trainer wise and jockey wise and fan wise. So it's
shaping up great.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, No, we're going to have a really good season,
improved over the last few Yeah, we're going to have
more horses here at Emerald Downs. We've got a bunch
of Northern California trainers in and some returning jockeys and
some newer jockeys, some new old faces like our guest
today on horse Racing Northwest jockey Francisco Durant. He's going
(01:53):
to join us in the second segment, so good to
have him back. He left here on a high note.
We'll go over there a little bit later. But yeah,
looking forward to a great season at Emerald Downs. Opening day,
as Vince said on Sunday the twenty seventh, and that's
the only day of racing that week. And then the
next day of racing.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Vince, Saturday May third, which is of course Kentucky Derby Day,
So we'll have live racing at Emerald Downs in full
card simulcasting. You know that Churchill Downs undercard for Derby,
next to the Breeders' Cup. It's one of the finest
days of racing there is. And I think, what do
we say, We're opening at seven thirty that morning.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Yeah, gates open at seven thirty on both Friday May
second and Saturday May third, mostly due to the first
Churchill Downs race each day is eight.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Am, right May I think they'll have thirteen races and
then cap by the Kentucky Derby one horse. I guess
we'll be seeing on that. It sounds like Torpedo Anna.
She won the Apple Blossom last week and then afterwards
Ken McPeak said they were pointing to come back in
three weeks in the La Troyenne on Derby Day. So
that'll ad a little excitement to an already busy day.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, you get a horse like her that just how
do you outrun her? Anyway the race sets up, she's
defending Horse of the Year an off a great start
in twenty twenty five. Hey, there's a good deal out
there that closes at midnight tonight. If you are listening
on Thursday, the day we are doing the podcast, April seventeenth,
(03:25):
this deal closes at midnight tonight. You need to do
it online. It's an excellent deal for Emerald Down's at
ten des fifty five dollars gets you a pass for
all fifty one days of racing, so you get in
for you know, just over a dollar for fifty one
days fifty five bucks. But included in that is twenty
(03:48):
extra individual passes, so that is you know, it's a
ten dollars admission, So that's an extra two hundred dollars
value right there, So you need to do that online
at Emerald down dot com by midnight tonight Thursday, April seventeenth.
Fifty five dollars for your season passes for your one
(04:09):
season pass, and you can do multiple of those if
you want as well. But the twenty extra pass offer
will end tonight, so keep that in mind for some
great deal to bring family and friends out to Emerald Downs.
A couple other things I've got here, Vince. The snow
Qualmi Casino out near North Bend. They're going to have
(04:30):
full card simulcasting of tracks around the country beginning this Saturday,
the nineteenth. So the snow Qualm Casino out there on
the East Side is going to take horse racing and
they're going to be open seven days a week for that,
and we are going to be closed on Monday and
Tuesday after our second weekend, so May fifth and sixth,
(04:52):
Emerald Downs will be closed that Monday and Tuesday, and
for the following Monday and Tuesday, no full card simulcasting
here in the building on Monday and Tuesdays for the
rest of the year, beginning May fifth and sixth.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
You know what, though, some of us have phone accounts
and adw so we'll figure out a way to get it.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Definitely. Well, Turf Paradise will be over by then, which
is of course a very popular signal for us here
in Washington, and not a lot of big tracks run
on Monday and Tuesday, but nonetheless that's the schedule there.
We're going to have our magnetic calendars on opening day
April twenty seventh, so you get those when you come in.
(05:35):
Lost Marg's Cafe is our backstretch cafe. Now that's open
till three pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and it's going
to be open later of course on live racing days. Yep.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
I've been spending a lot of time back there. Great edition,
Joe really really a nice atmosphere, oh yeah, just an
outstanding menu, great food. Lost Marg's Cafe is our Stable
area cafe, and again that's open to the public. Just
parked there on the west side of the building and
enter through the doors there and head on into the cafe.
(06:08):
Let's see what else we got here. Twelve percent on
pick threes. That's an outstanding figure looking forward to that.
That's new this year. That's great, and I'll be taking
advantage of that, and a lot of people will. That's great,
lower takeout on a popular bet. And of course we
have the rolling ones here.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Rolling pick threes. Twelve percent takeout, really low within the industry.
We're going to have a jackpot pick six again this year.
Penny breakage as well, and I think we're the only
state out of Kentucky still that has penny breakage.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I haven't noticed any other one except Kentucky in Washington.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Yeah, so that's you know, again through the math, nine
dollars and seventy nine cent payoff used to revert to
nine dollars and sixty cents. That's right now, it's nine
to seventy nine. And it doesn't sound like that much,
but it all adds up. What's the old saying, dim here,
dim there? Pretty soon you're talking real money. Well yeah,
(07:05):
and the more you bet, the more it affects your
profit motive. Okay. You know, the Emerald Downs Media Guide
is just chocked with information. We've been on it since
nineteen ninety six. On our stats, and Vince, I think
you just about add a little bit of tidbit every year.
Certainly you update what happened the previous season, but that's
(07:27):
available for free online. It is.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
It's up at Emeraldowns dot com. It's a lot of
fun looking at all the old stakes histories and all.
Like I was going to look up how many career
wins at Emerald Downs. Francisco Duran, our guest has it
was right there. So yeah, one thing like you and
and Gary Doherty when this track opened in nineteen ninety six,
you established great record keeping. So the database has been there,
(07:52):
and it's amazing how many tracks don't have that. You know,
all their historical numbers.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Right, and we've got numbers in a lot of areas
that other tracks don't have numbers. Sure too. Yeah, you
like your numbers as well, and you've done a super job.
So go to Emeraldowns dot com. You can download the
media guide and just brush up on everything that's been
Emerald Downs is. This is our thirtieth season here in Auburn,
(08:19):
coming up April twenty seventh. All right, let's see Tom
Harris is back as track announcer. That's great. Tom is
certainly popular here in Washington. He's called it gosh. He's
called a lot of tracks, including regular stints. Of course,
at Playfair and Yakama Meadows in several years. This will
(08:41):
be his third straight year at Emerald Downs. Read Palmer
Photography always good to have them involved too.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Read best in the business. And I've been at a
lot of tracks and you Read and Aaron are amazing.
All those pictures you see of Emerald Downs horses, jockeys, trainers, owners,
that's all compliments of their fine work. And you make
your own breaks. You look out, lookout in the infield.
Sometimes you know, they don't just take the standard winter
circle shot, which are fine, but they're hustling and getting
(09:10):
great stuff.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah. And how often do we go to their backlog
of pictures on our.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Only about ten times a week.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Yeah, Okay. Promotions, regular promotions will be back as well.
All the promotions are listed at Emeraldowns dot com as well.
We'll have some big crowds on a lot of those
promotional days. Training Day, We've been doing our Training Day
video for a few weeks. I've been doing it on Tuesday.
That'll switch after opening week because we're going to go
(09:41):
to the track being dark on Tuesdays. But Training Day
is available at YouTube. On YouTube, go to type in
Emerald Downs Training Day in this past week we did
get a couple of comments from some new old jockeys
like Francisco Durant and Julian Kutan both joined us. They're
(10:01):
part of our this week's Training Day update. So Kentucky Derby,
well just a few few weeks away now all the
major stakes races for three year olds over the winter
in the spring are in the books and looks like
Journalism is going to be the favorite in this year's
Kentucky Derby. The Sanate Nita Derby winner.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
No doubt about it. He's got I think the two
of the three athos you go buy buyers. He's he's
been fast and he's been good. He overcame a little
bit of a tight running there to win the Sannita
Derby going away five horse fields, not quite like twenty,
but he's been tested and yeah, he's a deserved favorite.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, he's he's been real, real impressive and a lot
of speed as usual in a huge field. Looks like
a lot of speed in the Derby. So he'll get
a pace to run out as well, a little bigger
field than he's used to running at Santa Anita.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Oh for sure. You know, and you know it's a
mile and the quarter. None of them have gone that far.
But you know, just watching him run, he sure looks
like he wants, you know, every bit of the mile
and a quarter. Just the way he's been finishing. It's
not a curling I believe correct.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, Okay, all right, Well there's some news and notes.
We'll have a little bit more up on new jockeys
and trainers in our next segment after we speak with
jockey Francisco Duran, and our final segment as usual sports
shorts and trivia selections. It might be a little bit
(11:34):
light on that this week, as we are. I had
a bad one a couple of weeks ago. Let's forget
about that and move on. It's time to take a break.
We'll be right back with jockey Francisco Duran on horse
racing Northwest.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It doesn't matter if you love craps, blackjack machines or
dining on the finest Asian, American and Salis quiz. It
doesn't matter what you do or where you're coming from.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Macco Soon.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
What you do is all at Muckleshoe, an easy drive
from wherever you are, All roads lead to Muckleshoe. Mucosuit
two more real.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Jewel on the outside of attracted, attracted angles out trying
to take a crack at five oh cocktail in the
final eighth of a mile. Five O Cocktail goes on willingly,
happy on the inside and attracted, attacking on both sides.
Five out Cocktail. Here's happy, grabbing the rail and taking
the lead, and it will be happy in Francisco.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Durant, Now, that was a race at Santa Anita this
past January, and the horse happy, It's off to a
pretty good start in his career. He won that day
at the great race place, and his rider was one
Francisco Duran who joins us here on horse Racing Northwest Francisco.
Great to have you here.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Thank you for having me here.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You bet, you bet? How about winning a race at
sant Anita. That had to be fun.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Yeah, that was probably something you take off your bucket list.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Yeah, because you've spent so much time in northern California,
and of course we've seen you here at Emerald Downs
in several different seasons. But boy, looking to the south
with all the great riders that have gone through there
over the years, that it had to be a bucket
list thing. That was that was a lot of fun.
It was it was happy was the name of the horse.
(13:32):
Vince and Francisco has had some good moments here at
Emerald Downs. But you know some of his career numbers.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
He has at the latest numbers one six and fifty
nine career wins, one hundred and twenty three right here
at Emerald Downs. Looking up a couple of the stakes
winners Posse Power and missing you both for Frank Lucarelli.
Missing you won the Emerald Derby here in twenty ten,
and just chatting with Francisco before we went on here.
(14:02):
Your background is kind of interesting. You're from Los Angeles,
no background in racing, but you went to Frank Garza
was the gentleman, had a racing academy and kind of
that's how you learned how to ride race horses.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
Yeah, it was a life changing experience, you could say,
because I've none of my family members were horse people.
A neighbor of mine met him, said hey, you want
to meet this guy, and sure, okay, and then he
explained to me the horse racing world, you could say.
(14:34):
And then after I thought about it as sure, and
then I got into it and I just gave everything
up to follow that career, and I've been blessed ever since.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Nice. How about like the first time you went out
there around horses. There are these big old things, and
I mean there had to be a little bit anxiety.
What do you remember kind of the early lessons there?
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Yes, I mean I didn't grow up around horses, so
I was nervous around them and got over it and
enjoyed it even more and more and felt it was
something for me to do.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yeah, and a rewarding career. Francisco has a big family.
We'll talk about that too. But you kind of gravitated
toward northern California to get going.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Yes, that started me off on a good note, you
could say, as an apprenticed writer. I was a third
leading apprentice writer in the country. I got to go
to the Eclipse Award and it was just an awesome
accomplishment that I never thought i'd get to do.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Yeah, that's great. Early on, what did you feel like
you were good at as a jockey or you know,
you know I can do that pretty well. This I've
mastered a little bit. My agent tells me I do
this well. The trainers say, was there some things? There
came a little bit more natural than others and other
things he had to work on.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
You could see people see me coming out of the
gates better than some other jockeys. I've always been known
to shoot out of the gates really good, become a
position in the front, rough pace, and especially here. This
track favors a lot of speed, and I know I
(16:26):
can do good here.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
That's good. You know, it's funny Vince his last day
he was here back in twenty sixteen. I believe it
was he Francisco was scheduled to leave and you know,
it's in the middle of the meat sort of July,
but had some plans elsewhere. He won four races on
his last day here, including the final three on the card.
You must have been kicking yourself that why am I leaving? Now?
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Yeah, it was a little a little bit of regret,
but it was personal reasons. Yeah, and I'm just excited
to be back here.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Yeah, I was going to say, you, you know, we
all we've been talking the last few weeks about the
lot of the Northern California horsemen are coming up here
because of the situation down there, and a lot of
the jocks too. We've seen you, Ronald Rishard, Julian Couton.
Is it going to be a little difficult to get
going again up here when you come into a new place,
(17:22):
or how does that kind of work for a jockey.
They've seen you right up here before, so maybe it
a little be a little bit easier for you.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
I don't want to say it's going to be easier.
It's going to be competitive. You know, it's going to
more jockeys, more horses, trainers. Uh, you just got to
get there, get out there and get lucky and be
competitive and prove your worth.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Brent Harmon is going to be your agent, and he's
been here for a while too, so and so is Francisco.
So I'm sure you're you're getting yourself known in several
barns around here.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Yeah. I think so. Brent is a very good agent,
very likable guy. He knows the stats. And I have
a history with some of these guys here, with other
trainers that have written before, and they seem to welcome
me back. So I think that's a positive thing.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, and maybe put a little spur in Lucarelli's mind there, Vince,
As you mentioned, both the Francisco Steaks wins here we're
for Luke Arella.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Yeah, and you have a history with Tim mccanna, who's
got an increased presencist here this year. You've written a
lot for Tim in Northern California. I know you've gotten
on some for Blaine right in the past. So guys
like Tomayo Trahio that are new up from Northern cal
you you should have a pretty good good chance up here.
I think of making a go.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
I think so I've written for all those guys and
working horses for everybody here that I can, and I
think I think I'll get started on a really positive note.
Just go out there and do my work and go
for it.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Yeah. Talking to Francisco earlier this week, we did that
brief interview that's on our training day video. He's just
real enthusiastic and optimistic. You know, it's that time of year,
you know, leading up to a new meat. Everybody's unbeaten
and all that. But you know a little bit about
the Bay area, boy, you spend a lot of years there,
(19:19):
and you know Bay Meadows closed, you know, fifteen years
ago or so, and now Golden Gate and then you know,
Vincent and I made a trip down to Pleasant and
I hadn't been there and went there in January. What
a nice little town and track, and it's just we're
getting a little negative here. But it's just really a
shame what's happened in the Bay Area Francisco, and you're
(19:41):
easily can attest to that.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Yeah, we're all sadden about that, but we can't be
We have to move forward and be positive about the
new opportunities that we'll get here in Washington and rolled
Downs and all the trainers that I spoken to that
are coming up here are excited to do good and
(20:05):
they feel happy to be here as well.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
He got me off the host off that negativity run
there real quick, very nice. Got it right back on
the positive, didn't he.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah, talking about you and your family, it sounds like
you've got a little hook up here on the backstretch
for now, but you'd like to settle roots.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Down up here in the Northwest.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
Sounds like, Yeah, I really thought about it, and I
think this is the next best place for me to
finish my career when I think the time is right.
I've always loved Emerald Downs, I really have. I just
wish they had more racing dates and maybe they will.
Who see how the smeat turns out, and maybe it
could be a more positive for that. But I love
(20:49):
living here. It's a great place to be, one of
the best places in the country. So you know, I'm
excited to stay here.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, that's that's excellent. Yeah, you've you've spent some summers
up here, so you know what's going on. And Vince
alluded to your family and your one son, is it Johnny.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
That's fifteen years old? I five nine. I believe. Yeah,
it's hard to believe.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Yeah, boy, And you've got how many children? Four? Four children? Yeah,
you've you've got.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
They started early.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Yeah. Yeah, that's great. And uh, your family going to
be up here this summer.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
My oldest children are going to stay in the Bay Area.
My youngest Johnny, he's going to be living with us. So, yeah,
finish high school here.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
That's great. Yeah. Just you've seen a lot over your
you know, career, which is getting it's involved. Now you know,
you're not a you're quite away from your apprentice here.
And what are some of the jockeys that you know
come to mind real quick that you've ridden with, that
you know, have impressed you you.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Uh, one of them is h of course Russell Bays.
Bobby Gonzalez, he's one of my favorite writers that I
rode with. He taught me a lot, especially coming out
of the gates.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
He was good at that too.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, yes, he was. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
One time, I just I begged him show me, show me,
practically crying because I knew I could do it, but
I just so he taught me, and then after I
ask him to do other things. Now, I'm not going
to teach you anything because you're beating me now.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Yeah, Bobby Gonzalez, Yeah, uh, he was a master on
the front end. He really was. Yeah. Russell Bays has
been retired several years now, but Russell was just a
great competitor out there, and of course he built his
business up and well geez the rest of Yeah, And
(22:48):
it must have been satisfying when you could you could
beat him in a race because he rode the favorite
a lot.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
You know, that's a that's a good feeling knowing that
you can beat him right there at the wire by
a nose. And it is good because after the race
are going to jocks room. He says, oh, congratulations, Cisco,
good job, you know, very sportsmanship. And I admire him
about that.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Yeah, Russell's got boy into just incredible numbers behind him.
What a career, and of course the Bays family has
a big, long history here in Washington especially. But Francisco
getting ready for the new meeting in yeah, entries next Wednesday,
so we're not that far off now.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
No, it's it's great, yeah racing, because we haven't raced
since the closed pleasanton December.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so okay, Well, we're looking forward to
a good season here at Emerald Downs because of you
and so many people from Northern cal that are relocated
up here. We're going to have more horses per race,
which you know, the better is like that the payoffs
get a little bit higher the more horses you have,
and the odds get a little bit better. It's just
(23:58):
more competitive all the way around. The riders got another
chance to ride, you know, when there's more horses in
the race, and Francisco going to put his veteran ability
to use and make some people notice that don't know
you as well, because it's been a few years since
(24:18):
you've been here. But you know, it's cool that there's
so many Northern California people that do know you well.
So hey, good to have you and it's just going
to be a strong jockey colony. Thanks for coming in
and we wish you all for having me. Yeah, Francisco
Duran joining us here on horse racing Northwest and he's
(24:39):
going to apply his trade at Emerald Downs this year.
And Vince. We've got just a lot of you know
names on the work tab this week of new trainers. Uh,
you know, there's a list, a pretty long list, so
you know we're looking forward to some new horses and
new new names.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, just a few of them, you know, and these
ones have anywhere from a few too many horses. Ruby
Thomas got a chance to talk to her yesterday. She
suffered a broken wrist the day before they shipped up here,
but she's good, she's doing great. Her son Jamie's got
a big barn. Gary Grinder, a longtime trainer down in
northern California. Jose Puentees, Jackie Navarre, who's significant significant other
(25:22):
is Steve Fisher, who we all know from right training
up here. Jesus Ramos, Horge Meravilla. We've talked about a
seed through Tomo and Victor Treheo recently, so yeah, it's
quite a strong contingent of Northern California people, and we're
hoping that can help in the handle, going down to
Southern Cal and Northern Cal people, and see, I know
(25:43):
those those I'm familiar with those worsemen, so it should help.
And of course with the field size too, and once
Phoenix closes Kentucky Derby weekend, we'll get the usual big
influx from down there too, and then we'll really be rolling.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
That's right. And yeah, you mentioned going against Southern Cal,
and you know Northern Cal's not involved, so we could
be in that every fifteen minutes with Southern Cal and
get pretty good exposure around the country, you know, that's
the hope.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Yeah, and certainly, and a lot of it will depend
on field size, which we have every reason to believe
will be pretty pretty strong this year.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
So we mentioned a few writers' names. You mentioned Rischard
and Couton along with Francisco and Juan Guterres has been
out there in morning.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Shilvia Amador has been here since we opened on February
twenty eighth or whatever. He's been out there every morning.
So it's great to lay down the early season work,
isn't it, Francisco? When it is the trainers that could
pay off at the entry time. You know that paid
off for Carlos Montalbo two years ago. He got here
a few weeks early and got himself into Tom Wenzel's
(26:54):
barn and that really helped him. Jennifer Whittaker's back. She's
our all time leading woman jockey. She missed all of
last year with the ankle injury. Manuel Americano, Wow, he
won the meet at Fresno. He's leading, right, He's gonna
win the title at Turf Paradise.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Ye, and he won. Didn't he win four on his
last day here last year?
Speaker 4 (27:17):
He did?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
On closing day he won four, including a stakes race,
and he finished really strong. And of course Alex Cruz.
Alex Cruise'll be going for six in a row.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
He's won five straight titles here Francisco. He's really just
found a home and he's he's driven, and of course
he's he's a guy to beat too. So those are
some of the guys. One one good good Terras are
all time leading jockeys. I mentioned his name. He's back
and he's always real fit and he's good out of
(27:48):
the gate too. You've been with long, I've.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Been for one number of years. That all the times
that I've been here.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Great guy, Yeah, yeah, he's solid. Okay, Well, once again,
thanks to Francis Go for joining us. We'll take a
short time out and we'll be back with our final
segment here on horse Racing Northwest. The Thrills of Live
Racing return to Emerald Downs Sunday, April twenty seventh. Get
ready for a spring and summer of fast horses and
(28:15):
family fun. Enter the Fabulous Hat and Best Dress Contest
on Kentucky Derby Day Saturday May third. Go to Emeraldowns
dot com to purchase tickets for all your favorite events
including Corgi Races, t Rex Races, Third of July, Fireworks Spectacular,
and Indian Relay Racing. Don't miss Opening Day Sunday, April
twenty seventh only at Emerald Downs Horse Racing Northwest. Our
(28:41):
final segment here and hope to see out at Emerald
Downs on opening Day Sunday, April twenty seventh. Day number
two is Kentucky Derby Day Saturday, May third, and Day
number three will be Saturday May tenth, and then we'll
run that Sunday May eleventh as well. Okay, thanks to
Francisco for joining us again onto some sports shorts and
(29:06):
NBA playoffs are about ready to get under way. In fact,
they are. The playing area is a way, which is
kind of interesting, a little more interest, I think, Vince.
You know, NBA TV ratings haven't been the greatest the
last couple of years. They've got a huge TV contract,
so the money is there. But with Luka Doncic on
the Lakers now along with Lebron, there is some interest there.
(29:30):
And I think their first game is Saturday night, the
Lakers anyway, so they you know, in the West, Oklahoma
City is a huge favorite sixty eight and fourteen, so
the Lakers have to go up against them to probably
get to the finals. But there's a lot of interest.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
I was, I was taken the other road when that
trade was made that Anthony Davis went to Dallas. I
really felt like they could make some noise. But you know,
that's water under the bridge now. But he was injured
a bit too. Yeah, he had twenty six points eighteen
rebounds in his first game with Dallas in the third
(30:12):
quarter and he kind of strained to groin and I
think he only played ten games and they had another
big score out for a couple of months Lively and
then of course Davis is coming back, Lively coming back,
and then Kyrie Irving's out for the year. So maybe
next year for Dallas, the team to watch in the East,
it's going to be Cleveland and Boston. They split their
(30:34):
season series two to two. Boston, of course, the NBA
defending champion. Boston was zero to two against Oklahoma City
this year, so that's something the Oklahoma City, I believe.
I just read that they set a record for margin
of victory average for an NBA season, and boy, they
(30:54):
did have a lot of blowout wins. So that young team,
the Exsonics are the best record holder in the NBA
this year. And the playoffs get underway. I don't know
if I'm going to pick a winner there, but we'll
be watching a little bit more than some people will. Vince.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Okay, you went basketball, I'll go baseball. Excuse me a
couple of this. First one probably kind of a well
known factoid. When Joe Demaggu had his fifty six game
hitting streak, who had the higher on base percentage during
those fifty six games, Joe Demadu or Ted Williams.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Boy, I did Ted Williams walk a lot, I guess incredible.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yeah, actually yeah, Demaggio's OBP during that fifty six game
hitting streak was four sixty three. Ted Williams was five
to five three. He did walk a lot, and he
had an incredible year that year too. This one is
a little I think I've heard this one before. I
hadn't seen a long time. It's kind of interesting. Who
(31:55):
is second all time? Okay, this one's got a few.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Twist to it.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Who was second all time? And hits by a left
handed hitting outfielder born on November twenty first in donorra Pennsylvania.
So second all time and hits by a left handed
hitting outfielder born on the day November twenty first in Donor, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Okay, you're not going to give me the year you
just said. Well, no, they were, they were.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Both of them were born on November twenty first. Yeah,
one of them was born I think in nineteen twenty.
The other one was born in nineteen sixty nine. The
answers to this, so.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
The guy born in sixty nine be retired about fifteen.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
So, in other words, two guys from born on November
twenty first in Pennsylvania. The town of Donor had great careers.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Who was second all time, second all time as a
left handed batter. Huh left handed batter, left handed hitting outfielder.
Born into Norma, Pennsylvania on November twenty first. The answer
is Onna Swagner.
Speaker 5 (32:56):
No.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
Ken Griffy Junior had twenty seven hundred and eighty one hits,
but also born on November twenty first, also from Donora.
Stan Musual had three thousand, six thirty hits.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
I should have got that. Yeah, he played like twenty
three years or something. Yeah, he's kind of over.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
I mean, he certainly is a huge name. But when
people talk about all time greats, boy look at his
number sometime.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Wow. Fantastic and a great guy. And he might have
never played in the World Series.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Well, Ernie Banks never did. I think Musual did in
the late forties. Yeah, you can't quote me on that.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
I'm pretty sure he did, because we all know Ernie
Banks never did because he wasn't on that sixty four
Cardinal team. I'm almost positively retired before sixty four. Anyway. Okay,
there's some good baseball as that season's underway as well. Selections.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Yeah, Stan Musial won three World Series forty two forty four,
forty six. Wow, okay, he was missed forty five while
serving in the Navy.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Oh good for stand the Man? Yeah okay, Yeah, I
had a pickup Statesman in the Wood Memorial, a little
bit of a price angle. He didn't compete well in
that race, won by Rodriguez, who was one of the
pace factors for the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Went wire to wire in the Wood.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Yeah, okay, and uh, I think we're onto trivia. You
ready fire away? Yeah? We had. This was a pretty
good question. I thought, which state based sire had a
Washington Horse of the year in his first two crops?
That's pretty impressive, right, because we had around one hundred
(34:43):
sires up until the mid nineties or so. I think
I got it? You did? You did?
Speaker 1 (34:49):
You got it?
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Vince? I posed that to him or he didn't give
it away on the show. But who is it?
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Table Run?
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Yeah? Table Runs? First crop had true so per seven,
who wasn't who was the horse of the year in
nineteen eighty and then not nineteen eighty one when he
was undefeated Mile Winter, But he was Washington Horse of
the Year in nineteen eighty but the year before that
table Hands, born a year after Trooper seven. Table Hands,
(35:20):
a full of nineteen seventy seven was, of course, that
sensational West Coast unbeatable juvenile Philly winning at Santa Anita
in Hollywood Park, Hollywood and Delmar. For sure, she was
five for five I believe in her juvenile year, and
she was Washington horse of the year. So seventy six
(35:40):
fold t P seven seventy sevenfold table Hands, first two
crops of table run. I think historians, Washington historians might
have been thinking Knight's choice. He did have in his
second and third crops Washington horses of the year hillco
Scamper in nineteen eighty five, Delicate Vine in nineteen eighty
(36:00):
didn't get any correct answers on that one, which kind
of surprises me. But what the heck? Okay, this one
revolves around Washington breeding. It is breeding season right now.
Peaceful Wings has fourteen winners at Emerald Downs, and her
fourteen winners won forty six races at this track. Share
(36:23):
the Knight. The Dam of Wasserman and a lot of
other winners share the Knight also had forty six races
one at Emerald Downs. They're both done with their progeny,
so they are in a tie for first with forty
six progeny wins at this track. Who's next on the
(36:43):
list behind those two? Not too easy, but give it
some thought and give us You know, if you just
didn't think about it too much, you'd probably get it right.
So there's a hint. Okay, thanks to Francisco for joining
us and and that we'll be with you on Thursdays
upcoming next week preview opening weekend, and on Thursdays thereafter.
(37:09):
It's the podcast for memoral Downs. It's horse racing Northwest
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