Mike Seely

Mike Seely is the erstwhile editor-in-chief of Seattle Weekly and the former Fairmount Park correspondent for the Daily Racing Form. He also is the author of “Seattle's Best Dive Bars: Drinking & Diving in the Emerald City,” writes frequently for No Depression and likes to let his two toddler daughters pick maiden claimers for him at Emerald Downs.

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all stories by Mike

When the Lines Go Down at Emerald

Clem Labine was a stellar relief pitcher for the 1950s Dodgers, back before they moved to Los Angeles. He’s also a 4-year-old racehorse who, despite a three-month layoff, was the heavy favorite in...

Events / Travel Posted November 9th, 2020 ·

Santa Anita Park at a Glance: What You Need to Know

They call Santa Anita Park “the Great Race Place,” and they’re not lying: A Left Coast answer to Churchill Downs, the Los Angeles-area track is easily the finest large-capacity horse-racing venue...

Events / Travel Posted December 22nd, 2018 ·

How Horses Taught Texas Country Starlet Jamie Lin Wilson About Life

Country music's geographic underpinnings are right there in the title: country. But while many a country crooner sings about rural life, small towns and livestock, not a whole lot of them actually...

Pop Culture Posted December 20th, 2018 ·

Saratoga at a Glance: What You Need to Know

On a mild August Friday in downtown Saratoga Springs, Broadway teems with nocturnal creatures of all cultures. There are Big Apple ballers competing for the affections of stilettoed beauties,...

Events / Travel Posted July 16th, 2018 ·

Your Guide to Summer at Del Mar, Where the Turf Meets the Surf

Remember your high school crush? Whatever shortcomings he or she had, you were willing to look past them, because, man, they were beautiful! When it comes to horse tracks, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club...

Events / Travel Posted July 14th, 2018 ·

Beginner's Guide to Visiting Belmont Park

While it boasts architectural and historical marvels at virtually every corner, there’s a significant element of New York City where function trumps form. Subway cars, hot-dog carts, pizza joints,...

Events / Travel Posted May 29th, 2018 ·

Your Guide to Visiting Pimlico, Baltimore's Triple Crown Track

Given the acreage they require, their seasonal existence and the unique cultural ecosystem of people who live and work on the backstretch, horse racetracks tend to function as cities unto...

Events / Travel Posted May 9th, 2018 ·

Churchill Downs at a Glance: What You Need to Know

As the home of the Kentucky Derby, Louisville’s Churchill Downs teems with historical significance. Yet a trip to the gargantuan, twin-spired track doesn’t evoke the misty-eyed nostalgia of a place...

Events / Travel Posted April 28th, 2018 ·

Keeneland at a Glance: Exploring the Heart of Horse Country

Bourbon, bluegrass, basketball, barbecue, and broodmares—consider these Kentucky’s five Bs. And in Lexington, with its uprising of microbreweries, “beer” completes a fine second-letter sextet....

Events / Travel Posted April 2nd, 2018 ·

Your Guide to Visiting Gulfstream Park, a Horse Track-Shopping Mall Hybrid

Ever wondered what an upscale shopping mall would look like with a horse track attached to it? That’s Gulfstream Park....

Events / Travel Posted December 5th, 2017 ·

Mike Seely

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