The enriched $300,000 Sunland Park Oaks as well as the $250,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby are also part of Sunland Park’s biggest day. The 17th edition of the 1 1/8-mile classic anchors a huge day worth over $1.6 million in purse monies. A major stepping stone race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, the Sunland Derby offers 50 qualifying points to the winner for entry to the 2022 Run for the Roses. The highlight of the upcoming season will be the $500,000 Sunland Derby, a Grade 3 event to be run on Sunday, Mar. The $15-million dollar purse structure will pay out over $250,000 to horsemen per race day. The upcoming live racing season will offer some of the richest races in the southwest. 'I think that's the same all around, whether you're on the business end of it or as a bettor.'
There's a hunger and an appetite for it around here,' said Sunland Park publicity director Eric Alwan.
