Sunland Park to suspend racing for three weeks

Sunland Park, the track on the New Mexico side of the border with El Paso, Tex., will close for three weeks, effective immediately, after the state’s governor asked the track to shutter in response to the coronavirus, according to a release issued by the track on Sunday afternoon.

Sunland Park had announced on Friday that it intended to continue racing but would close its doors to spectators, in line with the decision made by most major racetracks last week. However, general manager Rick Baugh said during the interview that the office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the track earlier today to request that it close for the next two to three weeks.

“The governor wants to get ahead of the curve,” said Baugh, in the interview.

In the release, the track said it would close for three weeks. The track canceled its live racing card on Sunday just prior to racing beginning.

Sunland Park was scheduled to hold its signature race, the $700,000 Sunland Derby, next weekend, and the track drew the race on Sunday morning. In the release issued later in the day, the track said the Derby “will not take place as scheduled.”