Sunland Park Racetrack kicks off 66th live racing season

Описание: The 66th season of live horse racing at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino kicked off on Friday.

The 66th racing season features a 55-day schedule running through Apr. 5 with races taking place four days a week, from Friday to Monday, with quarter horse races on Fridays and Saturdays and thoroughbred races on Sundays and Mondays.

The opening weekend will feature two thoroughbred stakes races: the $80,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Stakes and the $65,000 KLAQ Stakes on Jan. 4.

KFOX14/CBS4's photojournalist Rudy Reyes gives us a look at opening day of the 66th live racing season.

The season's highlight is the 21st running of the $500,000 Sunland Derby on Feb. 15, a key Kentucky Derby prep race offering 20 qualifying points to the winner. The event will be part of a day featuring six stakes races with over $1.1 million in purse money, including the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

The Sunland Derby and Sunland Park Oaks will be Lasix-free, as will all thoroughbred stakes races.

The $130,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby and Oaks will spotlight state-bred thoroughbreds on Mar. 29.

Quarter horse racing will see the 24th running of the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park on Jan. 31.

The season will also feature the $150,000-added New Mexican Spring Futurity and the $100,000-added Grade II West Texas Futurity on Apr. 4.

The closing day of the season on Apr. 5 will include the $80,000 New Mexico State University Stakes, the $125,000 Mine That Bird Derby, and the $200,000 Casa Ford Sunland Park Stakes.

Last year, jockey Harry Hernandez achieved an 8-length victory aboard Heroic Move in the closing day headliner.

STORY: https://cbs4local.com/newsletter-dail...

#horses #horseracing #sunlandpark #racetrackandcasino

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