SUNLAND PARK, NM—APRIL 17, 2014—Two-time champion Feature Mr Bojangles was named Quarter Horse of the Meet for the recently completed Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino 2013/2014 live meet.

Feature Mr Bojangles beat some of the best Quarter Horses in the world in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (Grade 1) last December. The former Paul Jones student had returned to track last year from his first season at stud duty. Owned by R.D. Hubbard and Heysol Howlet, the son of Feature Mr Jess stands at Lazy E Ranch near Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Esgar Ramirez and Wes Giles were crowned the leading Quarter Horse jockey and trainer, respectively.

Ramirez is a 7-time leading jockey at Sunland Park. Giles enjoyed a particularly strong campaign 27 wins from 123 starters including two big stakes wins with the great Here Kittykittykitty.

Over $19 million in purses was paid out to horsemen over the 76 day meet. Average daily purses reached a healthy $251,200. Average daily handle for the season was $729,654, which was down 8.48% from last year. On-track support was strong as the figures nearly mirrored last year’s on-track handle.

Director of Racing Dustin Dix said, “We are encouraged that the on-track business was so close to the previous year, and we broke the all-time record for attendance on Sunland Derby (Gr. III) day. Our off-track support was hurt by the bad weather on the East Coast in the winter and the added racing competition on Tuesday.”

Here are the 2013-14 Sunland Park Quarter Horse champions:

Quarter Horse Of The Meet
FEATURE MR BOJANGLES.

Best 2-year-old colt or gelding
BOI GEORGE.

Top 3-year-old colt or gelding
I AZOOMED YOU KNEW.

Top older horse
TF FEATURED EFFORT and FEATURE MR WHO.

Best 870 horse
FIRE ON THE FLY.

Top New Mexico-bred 2-year-old colt or gelding
DUNGAREES VERSION.

Top New Mexico-bred 2-year-old filly
WINNING MERLOT.

Best New Mexico-bred 3-year-old colt or gelding
OO FLASH FOR YOU.

Leading Older New Mexico-bred
HERE KITTYKITTYKITTY.

Top New Mexico-bred 3-year-old filly
WOODYS ALLSTAR.