Sunland Park Opens for 2011-12 Tuesday

Jockey Mike Smith

Hall of Fame jockeys Willie Shoemaker, Mike Smith (Roswell), and Jerry Bailey rode at Sunland Park. Legendary Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert compete at Sunland Park. Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino offers daily purse distributions of over $230,000 to owners, trainers, and jockeys. Spurred on by the rise of the $800,000 Sunland Derby (Gr. III), Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino continues to build in prestige and importance on the national horse racing scene. The 2011 edition of the Sunland Derby (Gr. III) attracted an all-time record crowd of 18,571 fans on March 27.

The huge crowd broke both track and New Mexico state records by wagering $2,963,240 on the 13-race card. Total purses exceeded $1.5 million for the record setting day. The Kentucky Derby prep race featured winner, Twice The Appeal and two other runners (Astrology and Ruler on Ice) that went on to achieve greatness this year. Ruler On Ice went on to win the $1 million Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Astrology hung on bravely to finish a solid third in the Preakness Stakes behind Shackleford and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom.

Plum Pretty

On the same day Sunland Park Oaks winner Plum Pretty won by 25 lengths. She went on to win the Grade I Kentucky Oaks for trainer Bob Baffert. Total wagering for the 2010-11 meet exceeded $60 million. The highly attractive Sunland Park racing product was seen by over 800 simulcasting venues across the globe. The 10th running of the $800,000 Sunland Derby (Gr. III) will be run on Sunday, March 25, 2012. Sunland Park’s signature event ranks as one of the richest Kentucky Derby prep races in North America.

A morning warmup and work

 The red letter day is also powered by the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks and the $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap. The $350,000 Grade I Championship at Sunland Park, the $250,000 estimated Grade 1 West Texas Futurity, the $100,000-added Riley Allison Futurity, the enriched $150,000 Borderland Derby and the $100,000 Sunland Park Handicap are marquee events. 

Pepper's Pride Win # 19 in a row



Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino ranks as the leading professional sporting event in the region. The 77-day live racing season starts on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and continues through Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

Sunland Park Opens for 2011-12 Tuesday