Sunland Park Scores Record Opening Day

Sunland Park Race Track and Casino scored record opening-day business on their 11-race program Tuesday.

Total handle for the first of 80 days of the 2003-04 season reached a solid $1,391,251. The tally was the highest opening day handle in the 45-year history of the facility located in Sunland Park, N. Mex., just over the state line from El Paso, Tex. The mark was 132% higher than last year's record figures.

"We are spirling upward and receiving excellent support from our off-track sites," said Paul Ryneveld, Sunland's director of racing operations. "It's the best opening we've ever had."

Sunland also enjoyed an 18.64% bump in on-track handle.