Muckleshoot tribe buying Emerald Downs

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is buying Emerald Downs, the tribe announced in a news release Thursday.

The purchase of the Auburn horse-racing track from Northwest Racing Associates and its president, Ron Crockett, will be completed within 90 days. The price was not announced.

The Muckleshoots have owned the land under Emerald Downs since 2002 and has invested more than $11 million in purse enhancements at the track to stimulate the racing industry.

“The Tribe’s long-standing support of the state’s thoroughbred racing industry continues with this transaction,” Muckleshoot Tribal Council Chair Virginia Cross said in the news release. “It is the Tribe’s goal to keep the thoroughbred horseracing industry as a viable part of our state’s economy. Emerald Downs sits in the center of the tribe’s historical homeland and this transaction makes it an important part of our economic development program.”

Crockett will remain on as a consultant to help the tribe with the transition to the new ownership and the current management team will remain in place for now, the tribe said in its news release.

This story was originally published November 13, 2014 at 10:56 AM.