Sunland Park Racetrack begins horse racing season on Tuesday, December 6

Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino begins an impressive $18 million live horse racing

season on Tuesday, December 6 and continues through Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

The 77-day meet provides an abundant inventory of important stakes races. Six figure stakes races

are presented frequently throughout the season. Horsemen will take advantage of an enviable

purse distribution of over $18 million. Average daily purses for the new meet should approach

the $250,000 level.

Sunland Park?s 2011-12 season boasts over 30 stakes races worth $100,000 or more.

The meet?s highlight is the $800,000 Sunland Derby (Gr. III) to be run on Sunday, March 25, 2012.

The 10th running of the Kentucky Derby prep race will be the culmination of a stakes filled card

worth over $1 million. Last year?s 1 and 1/8 mile classic was won by Twice The Appeal for trainer Jeff

Bonde. The energetic son of Successful Appeal split a 20-horse field in the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

Sunland Derby (Gr. III) runner-up Astrology finished a good third behind Shackleford and Grade 1 Kentucky

Derby winner Animal Kingdom in the Grade 1 Preakness.

Ruler on Ice, third place finisher in the Sunland Derby (Gr. III) enjoyed a tremendous campaign in 2011. The

Kelly Breen trainee won the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and was third in the $5 million Grade 1 Breeders? Cup Classic.

Mine That Bird won the 2009 Kentucky Derby following a fourth place finish in the Sunland Derby (Gr. III).

.

Sunland Park Director of Racing Dustin Dix said, ?Our effort in making Sunland Park racing a more prominent

signal has been very productive. We are thrilled by the successes of Ruler On Ice, Plum Pretty and Astrology.

The upcoming Sunland Park meet will be extremely competitive. Our season will be loaded with championship

level horse racing, and we are excited about the quality of the new season.?

The lucrative Sunland Derby (Gr. III) day program also includes the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, The $110,000 La Coneja

Stakes, the $100,000-added Harry Henson Handicap, the $110,000 guaranteed New Mexico Breeders’ Derby , the

$110,000 guaranteed New Mexico Breeders? Oaks and the enriched $100,000 guaranteed Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes

for open horses racing six and one-half furlongs.

The 2011 Sunland Park Oaks winner Plum Pretty went on to capture the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and is one of the leading

three-year-old fillies in the country.

The eleventh running of the $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park takes place on Saturday, Dec. 31.

2010 champion aged gelding Noconi won last year?s Championship.

The $100,000-added Riley Allison Futurity traditionally lures top two-year-old thoroughbred talent. The 49th renewal

of the 6 and 1/2 furlong feature will be run on Friday, Dec. 30. There will be no trials. Preference will be made by

lifetime earnings.

New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds run for $110,000 guaranteed pots in the Johnie L. Jamison Stakes

and the New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap on Dec. 11; the Enchantress Stakes on

Dec. 18; the Red Hedeman Mile on Dec. 31; the La Senora Stakes on Jan. 14; the Pepsi Cola

Stakes on Jan. 21 and the New Mexico State University Stakes on March 18.

New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses compete for $110,000 purses in the Jess Burner Memorial Handicap on Dec. 10;

the Challenger Six Handicap at 870 yards on Dec. 17; the Lou Wooten Handicap on Dec. 18, the NMHBA

Quarter Horse Stakes on Feb. 19, the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap on March 11 and the Sunburst

Stakes on April 14. Foals of 2009 compete in the $300,000 estimated Shue Fly Stakes at 400 yards

on Jan. 7, 2012.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, the enriched $150,000 Borderland Derby sponsored by Casa Ford serves an excellent

Prep for the Sunland Derby (Gr. III). The distance is 1 and 1/16 miles.

The $110,000-added Bank of America New Mexico Challenge at 440 yards and the $300,000 estimated

New Mexican Spring Futurity (restricted Grade 1) at 300 yards will both be run on Sunday, April 8.

The 2012 Copper Top Futurity will be split into two divisions. Both the colts and geldings division and the fillies

division are valued at $75,000-added. The two 4 and 1/2 furlong features for New Mexico-bred two year-olds

will be run on Saturday, April 14.

Many of the region’s top Thoroughbred stakes runners converge in the $100,000 Sunland Park Handicap

at 1 and 1/8 miles on Sunday, April 15.

The Grade I $250,000 estimated West Texas Futurity featuring the nation?s elite two-year-old

Quarter Horses is also set for Sunday, April 15.

Live racing will be held on a Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday basis for most of the season.

Racing on Wednesday, Dec. 21 and Thursday, Dec. 22 are the only exceptions. There will be no

live racing on Saturday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and Sunday, Dec. 25 (Christmas). First post time

to start the season will be 12:25 p.m. There will be 11 races per day to start the season.

Four-time Sunland Park training champion Chris Hartman will return to defend his title. The 2009-10 Sunland Park

training champ Henry Dominguez is absolutely loaded with a terrific stable.

Here is the list of stakes races for the upcoming season:

Saturday, Dec. 10 – Jess Burner Memorial Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds

and up. New Mexico-breds. 400 yards.

Saturday, Dec. 10 – KLAQ Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

5 and 1/2 furlongs.

Sunday, Dec. 11 – Johnie L. Jamison Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

New Mexico-breds. 6 and 1/2 furlongs.

Sunday, Dec. 11 ? New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds and up. Fillies and mares. New Mexico-breds. 6 furlongs.

Saturday, Dec. 17 – Challenger Six Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds

and up. New Mexico-breds. 870 yards.

Sunday, Dec. 18 – Lou Wooten Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. RG I. Three year olds and up.

Fillies and mares. New Mexico-breds. 400 yards.

Sunday, Dec. 18 ? The Enchantress Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Two year olds.

New Mexico-breds. One Mile.

Friday, Dec. 23 – Bold Ego Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

Fillies and mares. 5 and 1/2 furlongs.

Friday, Dec. 30 – Riley Allison Futurity. Purse $100,000-added. Two year olds.

6 and 1/2 furlongs.

Friday, Dec. 30 ? Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Futurity. Grade II. Purse $150,000 estimated, $50,000-added.

Two year olds. 400 yards.

Friday, Dec. 30 – Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Derby . Grade II. Purse $50,000-added. Three year olds.

400 yards.

Saturday, Dec. 31 – The Championship at Sunland Park . Grade I. Purse $350,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds and up. 400 yards.

Saturday, Dec. 31 – Red Hedeman Mile. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Two year olds.

New Mexico-breds. One Mile.

Sunday, Jan. 1 – Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. 1 and 1/16 miles.

Saturday, Jan. 7 – The Shue Fly. Purse $300,000 estimated. Foals of 2009. New Mexico-breds.

400 yards.

Sunday, Jan. 8 – Winsham Lad Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

One Mile and 70 yards.

Saturday, Jan. 14 – La Senora Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.

Fillies. New Mexico-breds. 6 furlongs.

Saturday, Jan. 21 – Pepsi Cola Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.

New Mexico-breds. 6 furlongs.

Sunday, Jan. 22 – El Paso Times Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.

Fillies. 6 and 1/2 furlongs.

Saturday, Jan. 28 – KOFX ? Radio Handicap. Grade II. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

350 yards.

Sunday, Jan. 29 ? SPRC Claiming Series. Purse $20,000-added. Three year olds and up. Claiming $5,000.

5 furlongs.

Saturday, Feb. 4 – Budweiser Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

5 furlongs.

Saturday, Feb. 11 ? El Diario Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

Fillies and mares. 6 and one-half furlongs.

Sunday, Feb. 12 – Curribot Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

1 and 1/16 miles.

Saturday, Feb. 18 – The Sydney Valentini Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Four year olds and up. Fillies and mares. New Mexico-breds. One Mile.

Sunday, Feb. 19 – NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. RG II. Three year olds.

New Mexico-breds. 400 yards.

Saturday, Feb. 25 – Borderland Derby sponsored by Casa Ford. Purse $150,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.

1 and 1/16 miles.

Sunday, Feb. 26 – The Island Fashion Stakes. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.

Fillies. One Mile.

Saturday, March 3 – West Texas Maturity. Grade II. Purse $65,000-added.

Three year olds and up. 400 yards.

Sunday, March 4 ? SPRC Claiming Series. Purse $25,000-addded.

Three year olds and up. Claiming $6,250. 6 furlongs.

Saturday, March 10 – Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. 4 and 1/2 furlongs.

Sunday, March 11 – Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. 350 yards.

Sunday, March 18 ? New Mexico State University Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Four year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. One Mile and 70 yards. .

Sunday, March 25 – Bill Thomas Memorial Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds and up. 6 and 1/2 furlongs.

Sunday, March 25 – La Coneja Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Four year olds and up.

Fillies and mares. New Mexico-breds. 5 and 1/2 furlongs.

Sunday, March 25 – Harry W. Henson Handicap. Purse $100,000-added

Three year olds and up. Fillies and mares. One Mile.

Sunday, March 25 ? New Mexico Breeders? Oaks. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds. Fillies. New Mexico-breds. 1 and 1/16 miles.

Sunday, March 25 – New Mexico Breeders’ Derby . Purse $110,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds. New Mexico-breds. 1 and 1/16 miles.

Sunday, March 25 – Sunland Park Oaks. Purse $200,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds. Fillies. 1 and 1/16 miles.

Sunday, March 25 – Sunland Derby (Gr. III). Purse $800,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds. 1 and 1/8 miles.

Saturday, March 31 ? West Texas Derby . Grade III. Purse $175,000 estimated, $65,000-added.

Three year olds. 400 yards.

Sunday, April 1 – Red Cell New Mexico Challenge. Grade III. Purse $55,000-added.

Three year olds and up. 870 yards.

Sunday, April 1 ? SPRC Claiming Series. Purse $30,000-added.

Three year olds and up. Claiming $8,000. One Mile.

Saturday, April 7 – Czaria Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.

Fillies and mares. 6 furlongs.

Saturday, April 7 – New Mexican Spring Fling. Purse $50,000-added.

Two year olds. New Mexico-breds. 300 yards.

Sunday, April 8 ? Bank of America New Mexico Challenge Championship. Grade I.

Purse $110,000-added. Three year olds and up. 440 yards.

Sunday, April 8 – New Mexican Spring Futurity. RG I. Purse $300,000 estimated, $110,000-added.

Two year olds. New Mexico-breds. 300 yards.

Saturday, April 14 – West Texas Juvenile Stakes. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed.

Two year olds. 300 yards.

Saturday, April 14 ? Sunburst Stakes. Purse $110,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.

Fillies. New Mexico-breds. 350 yards.

Saturday, April 14 – Copper Top Futurity. Purse $75,000-added for Two-year-old Colts and Geldings Division.

Purse $75,000-added for Two-year-old Fillies Division. New Mexico-breds. 4 and 1/2 furlongs.

Sunday, April 15- West Texas Futurity. Grade I. Purse $250,000 estimated, $100,000-added.

Two year olds. 300 yards.

Sunday, April 15 – Sunland Park Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds and up. 1 and 1/8 miles.

Tuesday, April 17 – The Getaway Stakes. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds. 870 yards.

Tuesday, April 17 ? KHEY/Y-96 Sprint. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed.

Three year olds. 6 furlongs.

Tuesday, April 17 – Adios Amigos Claiming Handicap. Purse $40,000-added.

Three year olds and up. Claiming $12,500. 1 and 1/4 miles.

Source: Sunland Park