Saturday marks the 2,000th day of live racing at Emerald Downs, a milestone that includes nearly 23 seasons and more than 17,000 races.

It all began 2:32 p.m, June 20, 1996, when Strawberry Morn captured the first race in track’ history, rolling to a 10-length victory in the $35,000 U.S. Bank Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Since then, an additional 17,431 races have been run at the Auburn oval, including 507 this season.

1st Day: June 20, 1996

1,000th Day: July 4, 2006

2,000th Day: Sept. 15, 2018

Total races (through Sept. 9): 17,432

Only six days of live racing remain in 2018 – Sept. 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23. Sunday, Sept. 23 is Fan Appreciation Day with several $1 Specials and a stakes quadruple-header.

Racing this week

• Friday, Sept. 14

6:30 p.m. (7 races)

Fab Friday

• Saturday, Sept. 15

5 p.m. (8 races)

September Saturdays

The Retros (perform after races)

• Sunday, Sept. 16

2 p.m. (9 races)

Emerald Rewards Day

Notes

Sippin Fire worked five furlongs in :59.80 Thursday in advance of the $100,000 Getaway Day Stakes for 3-year-olds on Sunday, Sept. 23. … Nominations for the Getaway and three other closing day stakes close Saturday: $50,000 Gottstein Futurity (2YO), $25,000 Pete Pedersen (3&Up) and $25,000 Fan Appreciation (F&M 3&Up). … Curious Rumor and Papa Mambo both go for their fifth win of the season in Sunday’s eighth race for $15,000/$12,500 claiming fillies and mares. A victory for wither would be significant in the battle for the meet’s Top Claimer.