Night Racing Debuts at Albuquerque; Handle Up
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Photo: Coady Photography
Citizen Geller wins O.D. McDonald Stakes
A switch to night racing helped produce large business gains for Albuquerque Downs Racetrack & Casino in New Mexico for the first program of its 2016 meet June 25.
Track officials said total pari-mutuel handle of $335,668 was up 45% from the 2015 opening-day card, and on-track handle of $125,795 jumped 107% from last year. The reported attendance of 3,417 was more than three times the attendance for opening day in 2015, officials said.
The Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet will span 60 days, with racing Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. There is a special Monday program June 26 with first post time at 6:05 p.m. MDT.
Along with the lighting system, the grandstand and track apron were renovated. Albuquerque officials said June 25 marked the first night racing program in New Mexico since the 1980s.
In the opening night feature, the $60,000 O.D. McDonald Stakes for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds and up, UKUSA Stables' Citizen Geller established a track record of 1:20.81 for seven furlongs and paid $42 to win. Trained by Vance Mikkelson and ridden by Alfredo Sigala, the 4-year-old homebred Pro Prado gelding has five victories and increased his career earnings to $172,914 from 21 starts.