My Favorite Race--The Longacres Mile
August 10th, 2016
To us here in the Northwest, the Longacres Mile is everything. It’s the biggest day on the calendar and has an amazing history. I’ve been fortunate enough to see many in person and it’s something I always get excited for. This year is no different. A full field is expected and it will be a good mix of local runners as well as California shippers. Here’s a look back on some of my favorite Longacres Mile memories.
Snipledo 1990
I was ten years old and was just getting a little too big to sit on my dad’s shoulders anymore. But Longacres had this green retaining wall that acted as the rail for fans to go stand up against and the closer you got to the winner’s circle, the higher that wall got. So as they were going into the gate I begged my dad to let me sit on his shoulders. He flung me up just in time to see Snipledo come flying out of the gate and lead the field on a merry chase around the oval. Snipledo dominated that day. He had been claimed for $60,000 just two starts prior and one of the owners he was claimed away from was my pal Jerry Kohls, the now longtime racing secretary at Portland Meadows. Jerry was at Yakima Meadows back then and said his $15,000 share of the claim was used for a down payment on his house. I told him “just imagine what the $35,000 share you’d have got for winning the Mile would have bought!”
Louis Cyphre 1991
Gary Stevens was returning to where his career really took off to ride this California invader. They made a big move on the turn and got the jump on Captain Condo to get the win. People in the Northwest have always taken pride in Gary’s success and the fact that he really cut his teeth up here. So it was cool to see him win the Mile.
Snipledo 1990
I was ten years old and was just getting a little too big to sit on my dad’s shoulders anymore. But Longacres had this green retaining wall that acted as the rail for fans to go stand up against and the closer you got to the winner’s circle, the higher that wall got. So as they were going into the gate I begged my dad to let me sit on his shoulders. He flung me up just in time to see Snipledo come flying out of the gate and lead the field on a merry chase around the oval. Snipledo dominated that day. He had been claimed for $60,000 just two starts prior and one of the owners he was claimed away from was my pal Jerry Kohls, the now longtime racing secretary at Portland Meadows. Jerry was at Yakima Meadows back then and said his $15,000 share of the claim was used for a down payment on his house. I told him “just imagine what the $35,000 share you’d have got for winning the Mile would have bought!”
Louis Cyphre 1991
Gary Stevens was returning to where his career really took off to ride this California invader. They made a big move on the turn and got the jump on Captain Condo to get the win. People in the Northwest have always taken pride in Gary’s success and the fact that he really cut his teeth up here. So it was cool to see him win the Mile.
Sky Jack 2003
The mighty Sky Jack gives one more big run and dominates a field to win going away. I had just started law school at Gonzaga the week before, but I spent the entire day in the OTB at the defunct Post Falls Greyhound Park watching and wagering. I liked Poker Brad as a long shot and he ran second but nobody was getting to Sky Jack that day. I think it may be the most impressive Longacres Mile win at Emerald Downs.
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