by Ray Sanchez 01.10.16
When Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino announced its 2015-2016 live horse racing schedule, general manager Rick Baugh made it clear.
“We’re going for quality instead of quantity this year,” he said.
The daily programs in the past have consisted of as many as 10, 11 or 12 races. This year, all daily programs consist of nine races, three of the quarter horse variety and the rest thoroughbred races.
With 10, 11 and 12 programs, the upper valley track often had to throw in some pretty awful races. This year, the purses are still substantial, but more concentrated on better races.
AND HOW is it working so far? Just fine, thank you.
There have been a few grumbles from owners and trainers, but racing fans are ecstatic. Not only do the more compact programs offer better races, spectators get to go home earlier. And fans are showing their delight at the betting windows.
Molly Jo Rosen, a young, attractive and delightfully energetic new addition to the Sunland staff (she’s listed as public relations/media manager), reports that the track opened its 2015-2016 meet with significant increases in handle. The opening four days in December saw a boost in off-track handle over 15 percent from last year’s figures. Additionally there was impressive growth in average handle per race (7.75 percent on-track and 28 percent off-track). There were slight declines in on-track handle, likely due to the shorter program.
THERE HAVE been a few hiccups since opening day last month because of the weather. The track had to cancel two days of racing because of snow.
But things are looking up again. And Molly Jo plans to keep it going. She says:
“Sunland Park’s initiative is to take fans of all levels behind the sport to de-mystify everything from the vets and stewards, to the jockeys and the game overall.
“Further on the calendar, fans can look forward to a robust concert and festival calendar. January 16 will be the first major event, a Tequila and Margarita festival with live racing, music, food specials and over 60 types of Tequila. The annual Sunland Derby festival — expanded to a three day event this year — will end on March 20 with the Grade 3 Sunland Derby and Sunland Park Oaks.”
LIVE HORSE racing will continue at Sunland on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays through April 19. The Grade 3 Sunland Derby has been moved back on the schedule to provide an opportunity for a contender who may want to enter another race before the Kentucky Derby, which is always held the first Saturday in May.
During the live horse racing season, Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino employs, on average, 500 people, most of them from El Paso. One can’t help but wish it a successful season.
TRIVIA QUESTION: A Major Leaguer who pitched three shutouts in one World Series also pitched in El Paso. Who was he? Answer at end of column.
ONE OF THE benefits of the holidays is that we get to run into old friends. I ran into Fred Albers, former KTSM-TV sports director and now a PGA correspondent for NBC. We had a friendly chat but he was getting ready to go back on the tour. He reports Jan. 21.
IT’S A SMALL World: Jim Schwarzbach commenting on last week’s column about El Paso High School: “Your English teacher, Maud Isaacks, is my aunt (maybe great-aunt). We called her Auntie Maud. I remember going to her apartment to swim with my cousin David Isaacks.”
AND THIS LOVELY sentiment comes from Norm Porter: “Congratulations. I graduated from Austin High School in 1964 and will always be a proud Panther but I will always have the utmost respect for EPHS. Your beautiful buildings, traditions and proud alums. Congratulations on 100 years.”
ANSWER to trivia question: Christy Mathewson