Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico, posted increases in wagering handle and purses during its 50-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet, which ran September 10-December 4.
The track recorded a 6-percent increase in total all-source handle over its 53-day meet in 2010. Total handle averaged $397,076 per day, an increase of 12 percent over the previous season.
On-track handle on Zia Park's live races averaged $47,274, an increase of 12 percent over 2010.
Zia Park paid average daily overnight purses of $210,337, an increase of 13.7 percent over the track's $185,035 average the previous year.
Alejandro Medellin led all Zia Park jockeys with 51 wins from 197 mounts, 16 more than runner-up Alfredo Juarez Jr. Henry Dominguez was the meet's leading trainer with 39 victories from 148 starters, 16 more than runner-up Joel Marr.
Call Me A Blazn Chic, a filly by Chicks A Blazin racing for Javier Marquez's J & M Racing and Farm, won Zia Park's richest race, the 400-yard, $330,643 New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse Futurity (RG1) on October 30. Judge Lanier Racing's McKenna's Justice won the meet's richest Thoroughbred race, the 1 1/8-mile, $217,000 Zia Park Distance Championship on closing day.
Zia Park's 2012 meet opens September 8 and runs through December 4.