Sunland has record meet

Sunland Park ended its 87-day 2004-05 meeting Sunday with a record average in handle, topping the mark set in its previous meet.

The meet drew $63,812,420 in handle on Sunland races, for a daily average of more than $733,000, up 9.1 percent from the record 87-day season of 2003-04. Ontrack handle grew 1.45 percent, and offtrack betting on Sunland races rose more than 5 percent.

Thor's Echo, winner of the $500,000 WinStar Derby on Saturday and second in the Borderland Derby, took top honors as horse of the meet and top 3-year-old male. Rocky Gulch, unbeaten in four stakes during the meet, was named top handicap horse and top older New Mexico-bred.

Jockey Ken Tohill took home the Thoroughbred riding title with 110 victories from 463 mounts. Steve Asmussen was the leading Thoroughbred trainer, with 47 winners from 201 starters.

Harry Veruchi was the runaway winner in the Thoroughbred owner rankings, with 34 winners from 108 starters.