Page 62 - NMHBA Spring 2020

RECAP
ZIA PARK MEET RECAP
Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico, ended its 2019 fall meet on Wednesday, December 18. Francisco Arrieta was Zia Park’s leading Thoroughbred jockey with 50 wins from 186 mounts, 17 more than runner-up Ry Eikleberry, who rode the winners of 33 races from 147 mounts. Arrieta was also the meet’s leading rider in mount earnings at $1,147,906.
Todd Fincher led all Zia Park Thoroughbred trainers with 36 wins from 133 starters, three more than runner-up Justin Evans, who saddled the winners of 33 races from 122 starters. Fincher also led all Thoroughbred trainers in starter earnings at $1,292,813.
Zia Park’s leading Thoroughbred owner, Tom and Sandy McKenna’s Judge Lanier Racing, won 15 races from 127 starters, seven more than runner-up Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC, which won eight races from 22 starters. Judge Lanier Racing also topped
all Thoroughbred owners in purse earnings at $412,394.
On the Quarter Horse side, Adrian Ramos and Alfredo Sigala tied for the top spot among jockeys with 14 wins each; Ramos accom- plished the feat from 113 mounts, while Sigala
had 102 rides. Jaime Parga Leos was Zia Park’s leading Quarter Horse jockey in mount earnings at $662,346.
Zia Park’s leading Quarter Horse trainer, James J. Gonzales II, won 11 races from 57 starters, one more than Cynthia Gonzalez, who won 10 races from 96 starters. Gonzalez was the track’s leading Quarter Horse trainer in starter earnings at $528,572.
There was a four-way tie for leading Quarter Horse owner, as LOS LLC and Abelardo F. Gallegos, Victor Diaz, Blas Duran Castillo, and Norberto Morales Perez all won four races. The partnership of Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez led all Zia Park’s Quarter Horse owners in purse earnings at $202,200.
Zia Park’s annual New Mexico Cup Day was held on Sunday, October 27. Twelve
stakes restricted to state-breds – eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses – were run. Purses totaled $2,102,545, making it once again the richest state-bred day of racing in North America.
The richest race on the New Mexico Cup program, the 400-yard, $326,530 New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse Futurity (RG2), was won
by J. Patricia Gonzalez’s Stominado. Jaime Leos rode the gelded son of champion First Moonflash for trainer Juan Gonzalez.
Hustle Up won the afternoon’s richest Thoroughbred race, the 1-mile, $185,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Thoroughbred Championship. Roimes Chirinos rode the 3-year-old Abstraction gelding for owners Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC, Bobby J. McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby, and trainer Todd Fincher.
Zia Park reported New Mexico Cup Day on- track attendance at 1,145. A total of $712,918 was wagered on the 12-race program, including $617,877 off-track and $95,041 on track.
Zia Park held its annual “Land of Enchantment Day” all-Thoroughbred program on Wednesday, November 27. Ten races were contested, including seven stakes, topped by the 1 1/16-mile, $245,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-olds.
A total of $1,171,744 was wagered on the Land of Enchantment Day card, including $1,128,038 off-track and $43,706 on-track. Zia Park’s 2020 meet is scheduled to open on September 21. The 54-day season runs through December 22.
SUNRAY PARK TRACK OPENS ITS 21-DAY SEASON ON APRIL 24
SunRay Park near Farmington, New Mexico, will open its 21-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse season on Friday, April 24.
SunRay Park’s stakes schedule fea-
tures 16 stakes, nine for Thoroughbreds
and seven for Quarter Horses. The track’s Thoroughbred schedule is once again topped by the 1 1/8-mile, $75,000 San Juan County Commissioners Handicap on closing day, June 7. Four of the track’s Thoroughbred stakes are restricted to New Mexico-breds, starting with the 6 1⁄2-furlong, $60,000 Russell & Helen Foutz Distaff (R) for state-bred fillies and mares on Sunday, April 26.
SunRay Park’s richest Quarter Horse race, the 350-yard, $115,000-est. New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year- olds, will be run on June 7.
SunRay Park will offer live racing on a Friday-through-Sunday schedule through Sunday, June 7. First post time on Fridays will be 3 p.m. (MDT), while first post time on Saturdays and Sundays is set for 1:15.
For more information on the SunRay Park meet, visit www.sunraygaming.com.
60 New Mexico Horse Breeder
SPRING 2020 60