The 25th season at Emerald Downs gets under way Wednesday with an eight-race card that begins at 6 p.m. Pacific. The 50-day meet runs through Sept. 23. During the first part of the season, racing will be conducted on Wednesday and Thursday with a 6 p.m. post time both days. Sunday racing begins June 20 and continues through Sept. 5. Post time Sundays is 2:30 p.m. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances - the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures Track president Phil Ziegler is eager to start the meet because fans will be allowed to attend the races again. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there were no fans in attendance at last year’s meet. “Everyone here is very excited,” said Ziegler. “It is going to be so much more pleasurable to come to work with people at the track. I am really looking forward to seeing fans coming through the gates on opening day.” There will be limits on attendance, but with vaccination rates rising quickly there is hope the facility will soon be completely open. “For now, I would recommend people buy tickets online,” said Ziegler. “There is great demand and I think we will sell out quickly.” In most areas people will have to follow the pandemic guidelines we are all familiar with. However, there is an area set aside for people who are fully vaccinated. “No masks and no social distancing in the vaccinated area,” said Ziegler. “It will be limited, but at least it is a start. The way things are going in a positive direction we hope by summer we will be able to hold some of our traditional promotions like Corgi racing, the Indian relay, and possibly the fireworks show on July 3.” The highlight of the meet is the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 15. A handicap race for 3-year-olds and up, the Mile is supported by the $50,000 Emerald Distaff for fillies and mares. Last year’s leading rider Alex Cruz returns to head a strong jockey colony. Trainer Frank Lucarelli is back to defend his title. Lucarelli said he will have 50-60 horses at Emerald. The all-time leading trainer at Emerald, Lucarelli also has a string of horses at Lone Star Park in Texas. He plans to race year round on the circuit of Lone Star, Remington Park and Sam Houston. “Home is where I would rather be, but we’re done at Emerald in September,” said Lucarelli from Lone Star, where he is tied for sixth in the trainer standings with Bret Calhoun.“It will mean a lot of traveling during the summer, but I like it here.” :: Join DRF Bets and play the races with a $250 First Deposit Bonus. Click to learn more. The opening-day feature is an allowance race for 3-year-olds and up, nonwinners of two or Washington-bred nonwinners of three. The 5 1/2-furlong dash drew seven horses and goes as the seventh race. The Chris Stenslie-trained Hard to Deny will be among the favorites. A 5-year-old gelding by Hard Spun, Hard to Deny closed out the 2020 meet with three straight runner-up finishes at the same level as Wednesday’s race, and makes his first start since October. He romped in his first start last year, and Stenslie appears to have him ramped up to fire a big shot coming off the bench with Juan Gutierrez riding.