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Downs At Albuquerque Releases $1.2-Million Stakes Schedule For 17-Day Fall Meet
The Downs at Albuquerque will kick-off their fall meet on Friday, September 11.

© The Downs Photo
Downs At Albuquerque Releases $1.2-Million Stakes Schedule For 17-Day Fall Meet

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—AUGUST 31, 2015—Approximately $1.2 million in stakes purses will be up for grabs during the 17-day Downs at Albuquerque fall meet, which opens September 11.

The Downs’ fall meet will run 17 consecutive days through September 27. The meet is conducted in conjunction with the New Mexico State Fair, which runs September 10-20.

The Downs will enter its fall meet with quite a bit of momentum from its spring season, which ran April 17-June 18. During the 39-day meet, the track registered a 25-percent increase in wagering handle over 2014, and it paid horsemen a track-record $173,592 per day.

“This stakes schedule is the richest in the long history of our fall meet,” said Downs’ director of racing Don Cook. “Our overnight purses will also be the highest we’ve ever offered in the fall.”

The Downs will offer a total of 11 stakes, six for Quarter Horses and five for Thoroughbreds. The Quarter Horse stakes schedule will be topped by the 440-yard, $200,000 Downs Fall Quarter Horse Championship on closing day. The winner of this race will earn a berth in the 400-yard, $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1), which will be run December 27 at Sunland Park Racetrack in southern New Mexico.

“We expect to draw the best Quarter Horses from around the country for this race,” Cook said. “Our goal is to eventually get this race graded.”

Other Quarter Horse stakes highlights include the 400-yard, $250,000-est. Downs at Albuquerque Futurity (RG3) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds on September 26, and the 400-yard, $200,000-est. First Moonflash Derby (RG3) for state-bred 3-year-olds on closing day.

The Downs’ richest Thoroughbred stakes, the 6-furlong, $200,000-est. Camino Real Futurity (R) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds, will be run on closing day.

First post time for The Downs’ live races will be 1:30 p.m. (MDT) on weekends, and 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The Downs at Albuquerque Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair. For more information, visit www.abqdowns.com and click on the “Racetrack” link at the top of the homepage.

DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE 2015 FALL MEET STAKES SCHEDULE

  • September 12: Casino at The Downs Stakes (TB), 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2-furlongs, $55,000.
  • September 13: O.B. Cockerell Stakes (QH), 3-year-olds, 350 yards, $55,000.
  • September 19: Balloon City Stakes (QH), fillies & mares 3-year-olds & older, 400 yards, $55,000.
  • September 20: New Mexico Breeders’ Championship (RG3) (QH), New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds & older, 440 yards, $60,000.
  • September 25: Manzano Stakes (TB), 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs, $55,000.
  • September 26: Downs at Albuquerque Futurity (RG3) (QH), New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds, 400 yards, $250,000-est.
  • September 27: First Moonflash Derby (RG3) (QH), New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds, 400 yards, $200,000-est.
  • September 27: Camino Real Futurity (R) (TB), New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs, $200,000-est.
  • September 27: Downs Fall Quarter Horse Championship (QH), 3-year-olds & older, 440 yards, $200,000.
  • September 27: New Mexico Breeders’ Handicap (R) (TB), New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds & older, 1 1/16 miles, $60,000.
  • September 27: Con Jackson Claiming Handicap (TB), 3-year-olds & older, 1 13/16 miles, $20,000-added.