HOBBS, NM—SEPTEMBER 19, 2019— Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico, will open its 53-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet with a nine-race program on Saturday. First post time is set for 12 p.m. (MDT).

Zia Park will offer live racing primarily on a Saturday-through-Tuesday schedule, with special Wednesday racing on November 21, when the track will present its annual “Land of Enchantment Day” program, which features seven Thoroughbred stakes worth a total of $950,000, topped by the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Zia Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, and the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-olds.

Other stakes on Zia Park’s Land of Enchantment card include the 1 1/8-mile, $150,000 Zia Park Thoroughbred Championship for 3-year-olds and older; the 6-furlong, $100,000 Zia Park Sprint Stakes for 3-year-olds and older; the 6-furlong, $100,000 Zia Park Distaff for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and older; the 6-furlong, $50,000 Zia Park Juvenile for 2-year-olds; and the 6-furlong, $50,000 Zia Park Princess for 2-year-old fillies.

Zia Park’s stakes schedule features 32 stakes, 19 for Thoroughbreds and 13 for Quarter Horses. The region’s best Quarter Horses will be on display on Sunday, December 2, as the track presents a program featuring five stakes, headed by the 440-yard, $150,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship (G1) for 2-year-olds, and the 440-yard, $150,000 Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship (G1) for 3-year-olds and older.

Other prominent Quarter Horse stakes on Zia Park’s schedule include the 400-yard, $300,000-est. Hobbs America Futurity (G2), and the 440-yard, $200,000-est. Hobbs America Derby (G3), both of which will be run on Sunday, October 7.

The best New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses will be showcased on New Mexico Cup Day, November 4. New Mexico Cup Day will feature 12 stakes, eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses. The day’s richest Thoroughbred race, the 1-mile, $180,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship (R), will match state-bred 3-year-olds and older at the 8-furlong distance. The New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse stakes schedule will be topped by the 400-yard, $300,000-est. New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year-olds.

The New Mexico Cup will offer total purses of $2 million, and it is annually the richest state-bred day of racing in North America.

Zia Park’s 2018 season will run through December 19.

For a complete stakes schedule CLICK HERE.