Friday, August 24, 2012
The New Mexico Racing Commission on Thursday set the state's racing calendar for 2013.
SunRay Park in Farmington will conduct a 39-day meet, while The Downs at Albuquerque will run a 57-day season that will include a 17-day New Mexico State Fair meet in September. Ruidoso Downs' 2013 season will run 60 days from May 24-September 2, followed by a 56-day Zia Park meet opening September 7.
Earlier this year, the commission approved a 76-day meet for Sunland Park, which will run from December 7, 2012-April 16, 2013.
Citing competition from the nearby Northern Edge Navajo Casino, which opened in January, SunRay Park officials lobbied the commission for a 38-day season, which would have been four days shorter than this year's 42-day meet. The New Mexico Horsemen's Association, through its executive director, Jack McGrail, requested a 44-day season.