Sunland Park Racetrack getting ready for 60th racing season

It’s been a long and winding road for Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

A journey that began back in 1959, and through the years has seen the growth other casinos would be envious of.

Horse racing will soon return to Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, but this race season will be extra special.

Starting Friday, December 28th, the racetrack will be celebrating its 60th racing season.

The race season typically begins in early December, but this year it was postponed 2 weeks.

This allowed the racetrack to expand the 75 day meet, so the racing season won’t conclude until the weekend of the Kentucky Derby.

Horse racing fans for the first time will be able to watch the Kentucky Derby, that Sunland Park plans to simulcast on May 4th, while at the same time enjoying live horse racing.

Of course, all eyes will be on the winner of next year’s Sunland Derby as the winner of that race gets a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

Sunland Park Racetrack Publicity Director, Eric Alwan, says it’s a celebration of 60 years of history for Sunland Park Racetrack and that it’s been quite the journey.

“That’s something most racetracks can’t achieve,” Alwan said. “That means you’ve been around through so many economic upheavals and changes and we’re still able to grow and flourish and Sunland has been able to do that, put itself on the map with the Sunland Derby.”

And Sunland Park Racetrack’s history will continue once again beginning on December 28th, when the horses return to the track.

“We’re going to have 6 stake races over the course of just 3 days,” Alwan said. “We get out of the gate very, very fast and you’re going to have great racing each and every weekend.”