NEWS
Indian tribe becomes landlord of Emerald Downs
Posted: Tuesday, November 26, 2002
The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe has purchased the 157-acre property that Emerald Downs is on, making the 1,750-member tribe landlord of the Auburn, Washington, track.The tribe already owns a casino five miles away, and it will open a $30-million entertainment amphitheatre in the area in June. As for the tribe's impact on the track, Emerald Downs Vice President Jack Hodge said that there would not be one—at least in the short term.
"We've got a long-term lease on the place: 60 years," Hodge told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "The only way it affects us is we will be mailing the rent check out to a different location."
A limited partnership that include Burien developer Mario Segale owned the land while the track, buildings, and other physical improvements were owned by the limited partnership Northwest Racing Associations, which also operated the track.
The land transfer should close early next year. Purchase price was not revealed, but published reports peg the land at a value of approximately $70-million.
Emerald Downs opened in 1996 and has enjoyed successful spring-summer meets since. Many credit the six-year-old track with reviving the Thoroughbred industry in Washington.
Discussion is under way that could lead to racetracks and bars being able to operate slot machines. Some speculate that the Muckleshoot's land purchase is a way for it to hedge its bets against the possibility of increased competition from just down the road.
The Washington Horseman's Action Committee supports the increased gaming while the tribes argue that their monopoly on gaming is necessary to help alleviate impoverished conditions among tribe members.
Hodge remained confident that the groups could work together, saying that the two gaming enterprises could create synergies.
"We've got a good relationship with the Muckleshoot Tribe," Hodge said. "We're looking forward to sitting down and getting to know them better."
