Richer purses bring new faces to Downs at Albuquerque meet

The Downs at Albuquerque will open one of its most significant meets in years Saturday. Purses have more than doubled since last season, the stakes schedule has been expanded, and there are a host of new stables on hand for the 54-date mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses that continues through Oct. 26.

Albuquerque has been able to put more money into its racing program due to a new casino built last year. In the past, the track’s slot machines had been housed within the grandstand. The new facilities have a patio outside overlooking the first turn of the track.

“They built a brand-new casino. There’s a sports bar, a couple of places to eat. It’s turned out to be a nice facility,” said Justin Evans, who won the training title last year at Albuquerque.

The success of the casino has helped push purses from last year’s average of about $65,000 a day to a projected $170,000 a program at this meet, said Jim Collins, racing secretary at Albuquerque. The increase has led to a high volume of requests for the track’s 1,500 stalls.

“We had to put 2,000 [horses] on hold,” Collins said of receiving requests for 3,500 stalls.

Those new to the meet include trainers Bart Hone and Eric Kruljac. Trainer Todd Fincher is sending a division back to the track for the first time in several years, he said last week.

“The money’s good,” he said. “We’ve got 15, 20. It should be a good meet.”

“It’s going to be a good meet,” Evans agreed. “They’ve added some stakes, upped their game on their stakes program.”

Others trainers making up the stable area include Henry Dominguez and Dallas Barton.

The expanded stakes schedule is led by the $100,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up Sept. 21. It’s a race that could lure some of the starters from Friday’s opening-day feature, the $50,000 Budweiser Special. The competitive field for the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up includes Grade 3 winner Called to Serve. He will be making his first start for Evans after being purchased at auction by Tony Pennington. Others in the Budweiser Special field include stakes winners Warren’s Knockout and Show Some Magic.

The Downs at Albuquerque will race Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, said Collins, with the exception 12 straight days of racing during the New Mexico State Fair.