Coming next fountain to a racetrack in southern New Mexico the $800,000 Sunland Derby.
Sunland Park officials on Thursday said the tracks principal race, once upon a time renowned as the WinStar Derby, will be the Sunland Derby. It will carry an $800,000 winnings with potential to reach $1,000,000.
What were frustrating to do is charm more top-quality horses accepted into the race, Sunland Park racing boss Dustin Dix said.
Dix said the track, positioned just outside El Paso, Texas, is culmination its protection promise on good rapport with Kentucky-based WinStar Farms. Owner Stan Fulton further $200,000 to the $600,000 purse from this years race and sought Sunlands name to be featured.
It was just a business determination, Dix said. It wasnt anything with us and WinStar not soul ecstatic with each other.
Among the incentives at depiction top are a $200,000 windfall to any Sunland Derby winner who carries a former Grade 1 victory. The reference point winners share for the Sunland Derby is $400,000.
The track also is offering a $100,000 extra any 3-year-old winner with any new aforementioned graded profit.
I would sense we can attract horses that are already accomplished, Dix said. Were exceedingly vexing to object the 26 races for 2-year-olds that are self run this year.
Next Eastertides in a row of the race, planned for March 29, will be the seventh printing of Sunland Parks sign event.
All further landscape of the race remain the same, including the 1 1/8 mile space and the pasture of 3-year-old thoroughbreds.
Sunland Park has been wearisome in topical years to secure a graded mark for the event, as the worlds richest ungraded prize race. Dix said prospects are slim until the committee meets in the fall of 2009.
We envisage that stance will be on what the do in our sporting event, so perhaps not this year, Dix said. Thats what were , anyway.
