Yakima Meadows

Edited Press Release  The Emerald Downs' racing community is mourning the loss of longtime trainer Bonnie Jenne, who succumbed to lymphoma Thursday at age 76. A mainstay since the track's opening in 1996, Jenne saddled 247 winners at Emerald Downs, including 15 stakes victories and over $2.9 million in earnings. "Today is a very sad day in the Washington Thoroughbred community," said Emerald Downs Director of Publicity Joe Withee. "Bonnie Jenne has been part of every Longacres, Yakima Meadows, and Emerald Downs race meeting since the late 1960s as a...

AUBURN, Wash.--The headline in the local edition of The Seattle Times on Wednesday, June 19, 1996 was full of elan as it fired off a bold prediction the day before the opening, "Racetrack Will Help Put Auburn On The Map." The building of Emerald Downs, which replaced the venerable and beloved oval at Longacres, was set to anchor development in the region and usher in a new era for the city which the paper said would attract "gamblers, shoppers and spectators." Some folks quoted were optimistic about the wiping away...