Woodlands slots could open in February

The Woodlands in Kansas City, Kan., will run 19 stakes during its 25-date meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in a familiar schedule that promises to get richer over the next few years, as the track won a referendum for slots this past June.

The target date for installation of the machines is Feb. 1, 2008, according to Jayme LaRocca, general manager of the Woodlands.

"It's going to be a dramatic boost for both the horse industry and the greyhound industry," he said.

The Woodlands, which has separate horse and greyhound facilities on its property, will open this year's mixed meet on Sept. 23. The stakes schedule includes the $90,000 Kansas Jackpot Futurity, a restricted Gradeo2 race for Quarter Horses to be run on closing day, Oct. 27. The trials for the 400-yard race are set for Oct. 16. Other races of note include the $91,000 Kansas Futurity, a Gradeo2 for Quarter Horses on Oct. 6, with trials for that 350-yard race set for the opening-day card.

Among the dozen offerings for Thoroughbreds is the $20,000 Woodlands Derby, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds on Oct. 14. Other Thoroughbred races include the $20,000 Woodlands Juvenile for 2-year-olds at six furlongs and the $20,000 Woodlands Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. Both races will share the closing-day card with the Kansas Jackpot Futurity.

The first stakes races of the meet are on Sept. 29, with the running of the $20,000 Sunflower Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Kansas, and the $15,000 Jayhawk, a 350-yard race also restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Kansas.

The Woodlands will race Saturday through Wednesday, with a daily first post of 12:30 p.m.