AUBURN, WA—APRIL 7, 2020—Emerald Downs, host of three regional Bank of America Racing Challenge stakes, still plans to host a 2020 racing season.

Emerald Downs was scheduled to open its 63-day meet on April 18. However, the track's actual opening day remains uncertain with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Everything is changing daily if not hourly, so it's impossible to forecast," Vince Bruun, the track's director of media relations, told the Kent Reporter. "Somewhere between May 31 and June 20 would be a nice scenario for us."

According to Washington Horse Racing Commission executive secretary Doug Moore, there were 532 horses stabled at the track as of Friday, April 3.

Emerald Downs is scheduled to host three Bank of America Racing Challenge regional races on August 23:

• 440-yard, $40,000-added Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge
• 350-yard, $30,000-added John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge
• 870-yard, $20,000-added AQHA Emerald Downs Distance Challenge.

“Emerald Downs is fully committed to offering live racing in 2020, when the current outbreak is under control and things begin to return to normal,” said Doug Moore, executive secretary of the Olympia-based Washington Horse Racing Commission, in a Friday email. “How this will look and when it may happen are out of the WHRC’s and Emerald Downs control at this time.”