Sunland Park Racetrack Hosts Marquee Stakes Races

Season finale features top quarter horses and thoroughbreds competing in five major stakes events.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:21pm

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A dynamic, cubist-style painting depicting the motion and energy of a horse race, with the horses and jockeys fragmented into overlapping geometric shapes and planes of bright, vibrant colors.Sunland Park's season-ending stakes races highlight the track's status as a premier regional destination for top-tier quarter horse and thoroughbred competition.Sunland Park Today

The final two days of the horse racing season at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in New Mexico will feature some of the top quarter horses and thoroughbreds in the country competing in a series of high-stakes races. The 12-race card on Saturday, April 4 will include five major stakes races, headlined by the 66th running of the Sunland Derby.

Why it matters

Sunland Park is a popular regional racetrack that draws top-tier horses and jockeys from across the Southwest. The season-ending stakes races are a major event for the local community and highlight the track's status as a premier destination for quarter horse and thoroughbred racing.

The details

The 12-race card on Saturday, April 4 will feature five major stakes races, including the 66th running of the Sunland Derby, one of the most prestigious thoroughbred races in the region. Other marquee events include the Sunland Park Oaks, the Sunland Park Handicap, the Harry Henson Stakes, and the Copper Top Futurity.

  • The final two days of the Sunland Park horse racing season will take place on April 4-5, 2026.
  • The 12-race card featuring the five major stakes races will occur on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino

A popular regional racetrack located in Sunland Park, New Mexico that hosts quarter horse and thoroughbred racing events.

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The takeaway

The season-ending stakes races at Sunland Park Racetrack showcase the track's status as a premier destination for top-tier quarter horse and thoroughbred racing in the Southwest region, drawing the best equine athletes and jockeys to compete in marquee events.