Zia Park has released its stakes schedule and first condition book for its 2010 meet, which opens September 11.

Located in Hobbs, New Mexico, Zia Park will run 31 stakes worth more than $3.5 million. Seventeen of the stakes are for Thoroughbreds, starting with the 6-furlong, $100,000-guaranteed Premiere Cup Handicap on September 12.

Other key Thoroughbred stakes include the 1 1/16-mile, $150,000 Zia Park Derby on December 4, and the 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 Zia Park Distance Championship Handicap on December 5.

Zia Park’s 14 Quarter Horse stakes include the 440-yard, $80,000-added Hobbs America Derby (G2) and 400-yard, $80,000-added Hobbs America Futurity (G2), both of which will be run on October 10; the 440-yard, $200,000-added Southwest Juvenile Championship (G1) on November 28; and the 440-yard, $150,000-guaranteed Zia Park Championship (G1) on December 5.

For the sixth consecutive year, Zia Park will host the New Mexico Cup races on Sunday, October 31. The New Mexico Cup features 11 state-bred stakes, seven for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses, worth more than $1,670,000 in purses. Last year’s New Mexico Cup became the richest state-bred day of racing in the U.S.

Zia Park will open its barn area for trainers to set up on August 18, with training scheduled to begin on August 30.

Zia Park will race four days a week, on a Saturday-Tuesday schedule, through Tuesday, December 7. The only exception to this schedule will be a special Friday program on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Post time will be 12:15 p.m. (MDT).

For more information, visit Zia Park’s website at www.blackgoldcasino.net, and click on the “Racing” link at the top of the page. The website includes nomination forms for the Hobbs America Futurity and Derby and New Mexico Cup races, as well as stall applications.