The 2020-21 race meet at Sunland Park, which never began as scheduled on Dec. 26, was officially cancelled in its entirety on Thursday. The New Mexico Racing Commission voted at a regularly-scheduled meeting to cancel the remainder of the meet, which hadn't begun because of COVID-19 restrictions in the state.
Casino facilities at racetracks elsewhere in the state have also remained shuttered due to the pandemic.
Restrictions on business capacity and operations vary widely between states and are laid out by state government. Casino facilities on tribal land are autonomous and several in New Mexico have been open for stretches of time while casino facilities at racetracks have been closed. Racetrack casino facilities were closed in the fall during a spike of COVID-19 positives in the state, per a public health order issued by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Sunland's meet had been scheduled to run through March 30 and was supposed to feature the Grade 3 Sunland Derby as part of the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Ruidoso Downs, SunRay Park, The Downs at Albuquerque and Zia Park all have dates on the calendar for 2021 but it remains unclear if those meets will go ahead without the reopening of casino facilities.
Read more at The El Paso Times
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