click here for 2007 - 2008 Stakes Schedule
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino - Wednesday, July 18, 2007
$19 Million Live Horse Racing Season Begins Dec. 12
2007-08 Sunland Park Stakes Schedule
Contact: Eric Alwan (505) 874-5248
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino begins the lucrative 2007-08 live horse racing
season on Wednesday, December 12 and continues through Tuesday, April 22, 2008.
The 77-day meet is stocked with rich championship stakes races and an enviable
purse distribution of over $19 million. Average daily purses should exceed $250,000.
Sunland Park’s 49th season boasts 30 stakes races worth $100,000 or more.
The $600,000 WinStar Derby is the highlight of the season to be run on Sunday, March 16.
Song Of Navarone won last season’s classic for three year olds racing 1 and 1/8 miles.
An extremely attractive WinStar Derby day program also includes the $200,000 WinStar Sunland
Park Oaks, the $100,000 guaranteed New Mexico Breeders' Derby and the $150,000 Harry W. Henson
Breeders' Cup Handicap.
New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds run for $125,000 guaranteed pots in the Johnie L. Jamison Stakes
and the New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap on Sunday, Dec. 16; the La Coneja Stakes
on Saturday, Dec. 22; the Red Hedeman Mile on Saturday, Dec. 29; the La Senora Handicap on
Saturday, Jan. 19; the Pepsi Cola Handicap on Saturday, Jan. 26 and the New Mexico State University
Stakes on Saturday, March 1.
The Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap on Jan. 6, the Sydney Valentini Handicap on March 23
and the Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap on March 29 are all valued at $100,000 guaranteed.
New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses compete for $125,000 in the Jess Burner Memorial Handicap on Dec. 15;
the Challenger Six Handicap at 870 yards on Dec. 22; the Lou Wooten Handicap on Dec. 23 and the
NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes on March 2. The $300,000 estimated Shue Fly Stakes is set for Jan. 5.
The seventh running of the $400,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park sponsored by GameCash
takes place on Saturday, Dec. 29. A collection of the nation's finest three year old and older
Quarter Horses will battle over 400 yards.
The $150,000 estimated Riley Allison Futurity traditionally lures top two-year-old thoroughbred talent.
The 6 and 1/2 furlong feature will be run on Sunday, Dec. 30.
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the $100,000 Borderland Derby serves an excellent prep for the WinStar Derby.
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 (RG1) at 300 yards will both be run on Sunday, April 13.
The $200,000 estimated Copper Top Futurity at 4 and 1/2 furlongs will be run on Saturday, April 19.
Thats Our Fred won last season’s Copper Top for trainer Henry Dominguez.
Many of the region's top stakes runners converge in the $100,000 guaranteed Sunland Park Handicap
at 1 and 1/8 miles on Sunday, April 20.
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 20. The talented filly Wild Six won the 2007 edition.
High powered claiming Thoroughbreds will have a rich new series of targets this season.
The $25,000-added SPRC Claiming Stake written for $7,500 claimers is set for 5 and ˝ furlongs
on Feb. 10. The $35,000-added Sprint Claming Handicap for $10,000 claimers will be run at
6 and ˝ furlongs on March 9. $8,000 claimers compete for $25,000-added in The Flat Mile
Claiming Stake on March 30. The claiming series concludes on Tuesday, April 22 with the
$40,000 Adios Amigos Claiming Handicap. A field of $12,500 claimers will travel one and
one-quarter miles in the closing day feature.
A new twist to the live racing slate will be Wednesday racing. Sunland Park Racetrack
and Casino will offer live racing cards on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
basis through Jan. 2. First post time to start the season will be 12:15 p.m.
Racing shifts back to the customary Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule
starting on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Here is the list of stakes races for the upcoming season:
Saturday, Dec. 15 - Jess Burner Memorial Handicap. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds
and up. 400 yards.
Saturday, Dec. 15 - KLAQ Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
5 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, Dec. 16 - Johnie L. Jamison Stakes. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
New Mexico-breds. 6 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, Dec. 16 - New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds and up. Fillies and mares. New Mexico-breds. 6 furlongs.
Saturday, Dec. 22 - Challenger Six Handicap. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds
and up. 870 yards.
Saturday, Dec. 22 - La Coneja Stakes. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.
New Mexico-breds. Fillies. 5 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, Dec. 23 - Lou Wooten Handicap. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
Fillies and mares. New Mexico-breds. 400 yards.
Saturday, Dec. 29 - Red Hedeman Mile. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Two year olds.
New Mexico-breds. One Mile.
Saturday, Dec. 29 - The Championship at Sunland Park sponsored by GameCash.
Purse $400,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up. Grade I. 400 yards.
Sunday, Dec. 29 - Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Derby. Purse $50,000-added. Three year olds.
400 yards.
Sunday, Dec. 30 - Bold Ego Handicap. Purse $50,000-added. Three year olds and up.
Fillies and mares. 5 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, Dec. 30 - Riley Allison Futurity. Purse $150,000-est., $100,000-added. Two year olds.
6 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, Dec. 30 - Sunland Winter Quarter Horse Futurity. Purse $50,000-added. Two year olds.
400 yards.
Saturday, Jan. 5 - The Shue Fly. Purse $300,000 est. $130,000-added. Two year olds. New Mexico-breds.
400 yards.
Sunday, Jan. 6 - Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. 1 and 1/16 miles.
Saturday, Jan. 12 - Winsham Lad Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
One Mile.
Saturday, Jan. 19 - La Senora Handicap. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.
Fillies. New Mexico-breds. 6 furlongs.
Saturday, Jan. 26 - Pepsi Cola Handicap. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.
New Mexico-breds. 6 furlongs.
Sunday, Jan. 27 - El Paso Times Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.
Fillies. 6 and 1/2 furlongs.
Saturday, Feb. 2 - KOFX – Radio Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
350 yards.
Saturday, Feb. 9 - Budweiser Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
5 furlongs.
Sunday, Feb. 10 – Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino Claiming Stake. Purse $25,000-added.
Three year olds and up. Claiming $7,500. 5 and ˝ furlongs.
Saturday, Feb. 16 - Borderland Derby. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
1 and 1/16 miles.
Sunday, Feb. 17 - The Island Fashion Stakes. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.
Fillies. One Mile.
Saturday, Feb. 23. Santa Teresa Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds
and up. Fillies and mares. 6 and 1/2 furlongs.
Saturday, Feb. 24 - Curribot Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
1 and 1/16 miles.
Saturday, March 1 - New Mexico State University Stakes. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed.
Four year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. One Mile.
Sunday, March 2 - NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes. Purse $125,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds.
New Mexico-breds. 400 yards.
Saturday, March 8 - West Texas Maturity. Purse $65,000-added.
Three year olds and up. 400 yards.
Sunday, March 9 – The Sprint Claiming Handicap. Purse $35,000-added. Three year olds and up.
Claiming $10,000. 6 and ˝ furlongs.
Saturday, March 15 - Bill Thomas Memorial Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds and up. 6 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, March 16 - Harry W. Henson Breeders' Cup Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed
plus $50,000 in Breeders' Cup funds. Three year olds and up. Fillies and mares. One Mile.
Sunday, March 16 - New Mexico Breeders' Derby. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds. New Mexico-breds. One Mile.
Sunday, March 16 - WinStar Sunland Park Oaks. Purse $200,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds. Fillies. 1 and 1/16 miles.
Sunday, March 16 - The WinStar Derby. Purse $600,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds. 1 and 1/8 miles.
Sunday, March 22 - Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. 350 yards.
Sunday, March 23 - The Sydney Valentini Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds and up. Fillies and mares. New Mexico-breds. One Mile.
Saturday, March 29 - Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds and up. New Mexico-breds. 4 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, March 30 - Red Cell New Mexico Challenge. Purse $55,000-added.
Three year olds and up. 870 yards.
Sunday, March 30 – The Flat Mile Claiming Stake. Purse $25,000-added.
Three year olds and up. Claiming $8,000. One Mile.
Saturday, April 5 - West Texas Derby. Purse $100,000 est., $65,000-added.
Three year olds. 400 yards.
Sunday, April 6 - Daylight Sprint. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds. 6 furlongs.
Saturday, April 12 - Czaria Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. Three year olds and up.
Fillies and mares. 6 furlongs.
Saturday, April 12 - New Mexican Spring Fling. Purse $75,000-added.
Two year olds. New Mexico-breds. 300 yards.
Sunday, April 13 – Bank Of America New Mexico Challenge Championship.
Purse $110,000-added. Grade I. Three year olds and up. 440 yards.
Sunday, April 13 - New Mexican Spring Futurity. Purse $300,000 est., $130,000-added.
Two year olds. New Mexico-breds. 300 yards.
Saturday, April 19 - West Texas Juvenile Stakes. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed.
Two year olds. 300 yards.
Saturday, April 19 - The Getaway Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds. 870 yards.
Saturday, April 19 - Copper Top Futurity. Purse $200,000 est., $130,000-added.
Two year olds. New Mexico-breds. 4 and 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, April 20 - West Texas Futurity. Purse $250,000 est., $100,000-added.
Two year olds. Grade I. 300 yards.
Sunday, April 20 - Sunland Park Handicap. Purse $100,000 Guaranteed.
Three year olds and up. 1 and 1/8 miles.
Tuesday, April 22 - Adios Amigos Claiming Handicap. Purse $40,000.
Three year olds and up. Claiming $10,000. 1 and 1/4 miles.