About Sunland Park

Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, to give it its full moniker, is a modern style ‘racino’ situated in Sunland Park, New Mexico, essentially a suburb of El Paso, Texas. The track sits only 8 miles from the center of El Paso, minutes from the Mexican border and 260 miles from Albuquerque.

Although slot machines are in place at Sunland (some 700 of them these days), the casino does not offer any table casino games and also does not open 24 hours as per state regulation, though the racing is where it’s at anyway.

The traditional Sunland Park racing season runs from December to late in April and features both quarter horses and thoroughbreds. Simulcast racing is also offered meaning visitors can place wagers on races all around the country.

The highlight of the season is the Sunland Derby, a race which has reached Grade 3 level in the past. The Derby is worth $800,000 these days and is now used as a prep race for the Kentucky Derby in May. On the same card is the Sunland Park Oaks, this time for the fillies and with a purse of around $200,000.

Although live thoroughbred racing is the highlight, the quarter horse season features a $400,000 Grade 1 race run over 440 yards in late December as well as a $300,000 race in April over 300 yards.

Sunland Park History

As of 1959 when it opened solely as a thoroughbred track, Sunland Park was the only legally operating gambling venue in the area for many years until legislation was eased.

Just before the turn of the millennium, at a time when most US race tracks were seeing a decline in profits, Sunland Park was no different and did what most major venues have done and introduced slot machines at the venue following New Mexico legislators’ decision to allow the change.

As of now, Sunland has 700 slot machines providing revenue for the track meaning racing has improved significantly in recent years, average purses increasing from $35,000 daily back in the ‘90’s to around $250,000 now.

Sunland Park Track Details

The main race track is a one-mile dirt oval made up of sandy loam. There are ¼ mile and ½ furlong chutes, the width is a tight-ish 80 feet and there is a 990 feet run to the wire from the final turn. There is no turf track at Sunland Park.

Biggest Races

Sunland Derby – one and 1/8 miles, three-year-old colts (March).
Sunland Park Oaks – one and 1/16 miles, three-year-old fillies (March).
Riley Allison Futurity – 6½ furlongs, two-year-olds (December).
Harry Henson Handicap – 5½ furlongs, three-year-old colts and older (December).

Place Your Sunland Park Bets Here With TVG!

Now you know all about the track, don’t forget you can wager on races there with TVG. Head to our schedules page to check out the latest race times then bet and watch live!

Address

1200 Futurity Dr, Sunland Park, NM 88063, USA

Contact

Dustin Dix (dustin.dix@sunland-park.com)