Sunland Park Racetrack

In the past few months I’ve learned quite a lot about horse races and betting thanks to the horse racing guru, Albert K. (I can’t be positive about how much his services are, but hire him… you’ll leave a master of the horse race betting arts!). Prior to going to the racetrack for a Community Unilocal Event I only ever went to Sunland Park for the casino (roulette specifically), but now I feel like horse races might be my thing. Believe it or not, Sunland Park has a Kentucky Derby qualifier race so some of the horses you see here in EP/​SP maybe on the big screen for the famous Kentucky Derby. So cool!
I really like this racetrack. Sure it could be better, but it’s pretty cool for the area. The racetrack is a normal 1-​mile track, but I love that the interior is a lake with water features. It’s nice to see a good sized body of water being maintained throughout the year. Immediately at the front of the track there’s perfectly manicured grass, the big screen that televises the event, and the betting tracker (I’m sure it has a better name then that). All in great condition.
You can sit outside or inside and I’m kind of mixed on which is better. It’s a pretty awesome experience being so close to the action when you’re outside. You can actually go all the way up to the guard rail and watch the horses run their hearts out. But seating outside is limited to a couple of bench seats in the small stands. The seating is about the same as what’s available at the El Paso High track. But again, the experience is awesome.
Most of the time we actually stayed inside where there’s seats that resemble ballpark seating. I like. I think they can actually open up the giant windows that look out onto the track because they appeared (to me anyways) to be more of the giant garage door persuasion than actual windows. The only downside is you’re further from the action. But your closer to the betting area.
The races ran regularly and I don’t think any of them started late so as far as how they run the races, A+. Betting was super easy and was done on computers. I only saw one computer that was down. And I really liked that you could bet on other races happening around the U.S. They even played the other races on TVs inside. Cashing out was a smooth transaction too.
I actually liked just about everything about my first experience with the racetrack except the booking a room process and the food. It’s f@#king impossible to book out a room for the races unless you physically go in and wait for the people who are in charge of that to come in. They don’t have any set hours that they work so you have to continually call in and hope that you get them. Leaving a message leads to nothing. NOTHING. No call back, no response, NOTHING. I even emailed them. Couldn’t even get a «The room has already been booked.» email back (even though I emailed months in advanced). I wasn’t about to wait around at the casino hoping to run into them so I just said ‘F@#K IT!’ Their loss. The food available at the concessions is God-​awful. I’d only recommend the popcorn and a soda because it’s popcorn and a soda. The churros tasted like cardboard sprinkled with sugar. Hard pass. All of us agreed the churros were not good. After that I was way to weary to try anything else. Maybe next time I’ll give the concessions another go, but I don’t have high hopes.
I really like Sunland Park Racetrack (and the casino). I’m sure I’ll be spending quite a few more days here betting on horses before making my way over to the tables inside. Good place to just have a relaxing and fun weekend.
Oh and they allow kids at the races with an adult! Start them young!

So we went here for our latest OYE! Let me say, great choice by our community leader. This was a blast.
Anyone been to Vegas? Anyone been to horse tacks before? Well it’s basically an El Paso version of that. Small casino, small track/​betting area, small snack stands, but still pretty nice. Decent crowd and decent scenery. There’s actually a lake in the middle of the track, very nice touch there Sunland Park. I approve.
There were 10 races, 15 minutes apart. Seating was plentiful. Betting (after we figured out how/​why/​what to bet) was dry easy and convenient. Also cashing in on winning bets was easy and fast. Cash in hand baby… Them Ponys pay off!
Overall it was a very fun event and I’ll for sure go back to bet again. It’s actually free to get in, so if you just want to sit and watch the horses, go ahead. But you can make $ 2 bets… On 10 races that’s only $ 20. So wen of you lose it all… So what, have a few friends with you and enjoy the company and races and you’ll have a good outing and fun day to the tune of $ 20. That’s cheaper than the movies… And who knows, get hot and maybe leave with more than you came with… Good luck.
Das It Mayne

SP supplements the horse racing with other stuff because, well because they need to. Which is a cryin damn shame because the horse racing should be lucrative here. The track is OK, decent but nothing really setting it apart except for location. It’s a loooong way to any other race track that isn’t Ruidoso (pronounced Ria-​dose-​uh by the same name butchering Texans that pronounce Mexia as «muh hair»).

Went to the buffet and the made to order fettuccine i had was delish.

Lots of OTB. Races from 12:30 to 4:30 PM on Saturday and Sundays. Cheap beer, cheap tables ($ 7.00). How is the VIP area?

My wife and I ended up here after we checked into out hotel. We were on our way to Vegas but ended up staying in El Paso and flying back to Dallas the next morning. Since we both had Vegas on the mind, we figured we would play a few slots and have a fun time in a new city for us. This place was easy to get to. We got there at about 1030pm last Friday and there were TONS of people there. Yes it was free parking and free to get in. This was not a real casino because it didn’t have table games but it did have 1 nonsmoking room and 1 smoking room full of slots. They did have a few of the «newer» games like Monopoly and Deal or No Deal. You can not drink in the casino area but through another set of doors was where people sit and watch the horses race. That is where the bar and they had a live band playing as well. The drinks were $ 2.75 for my Budlight or Miller Light so I was happy. The people that worked there are really nice. We had a fun time at this place. We were there for about 3 hours and then went back to the hotel. We didn’t win any money but had fun non the less. If we are ever in the area again we will stop by, maybe next time if we go during the day we can bet on some ponies.

Yes, four stars for Sunland Park Racetrack, but with caveats.
First, lets dispense with the notion that this is a casino. It is not. It is a glorified slot-​machine parlor. No table games, no dice, just slots.
But, thankfully, the slots keep the racetrack alive because without the added dollars from the chain-​smokers pumping their social security checks into those stupid machines, horseracing would be dead. At least in New Mexico.
Just contrast Sunland Park with Albuquerque which has no slots. See?
A day at Sunland Park can entertain almost anybody, regardless of means. You can pay nothing (free parking, free admission) and sit in the grandstand. Or you can pay $ 7 and sit in the Turf Club. A pretty good deal either way. Also there are private suites for about 10 people that don’t cost anything per se, but they do require consumption of $ 200 in food and bev. Most people I know spill that much.
Betting is either with a flesh and blood teller (ok, some of them look bloodless, but you get my drift), tote machines, or if you are in the Turf Club they come and take your bets at your table. Don’t have a lot of money? Throw $ 1 into the tote machine and bet the $ 0.10 Superfecta.
So it’s fun, and the beer is cold. They have full bars. You dont have to go far to get a drink if that’s important to you.
Now to the food. I have eaten in the restaurant and the Turf Club. Be careful, it’s extremely salty which is not a bad thing until the veins in your temples start to throb so much you scare the waitress. The burgers in the grandstand are pretty good. I can’t vouch for the buffet. Hate buffets.
Anyway, if you want to spend a nice afternoon (there are no night races, they tried them but the horses tripped and fell down since they don’t have lights either) head over to the track. Sit outside and enjoy the weather, or suck up the smoke in the grandstand, or play like high roller and sit in the Turf Club. Oh, and wear a cowboy hat.