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CROSS BORDER RELATIONS - special report by
Tom Dawson April 19, 2011 - Parts of West Texas and Southern New Mexico are separated only by geographical anomalies. In fact, Sunland Park Race Track and Casino lies in just such area. Without a sign to alert the traveler, it is impossible to know when passing between one and the other. So maybe it is no surprise that a race named the West Texas Futurity flourishes in New Mexico. On Sunday, Sunland offered the 53rd renewal of the race. That makes it the age equivalent of the All American Futurity, both continuously run since 1959. But while the All American has grown up in the same environment in which it was born, the West Texas had to make a survival move. Just like many of us have had to do in our lifetimes. In the very early 1970s, there was no such thing as a pari-mutuel machine in either Texas or Oklahoma. The “bush” tracks of the era provided solid purse money, as well as the foundation for many a two-year-old to go on to major accomplishments during the New Mexico summer. If you wanted to see a good juvenile prospect, make plans to visit Goliad, Columbus, Del Rio, Sallisaw and several other spots. Among those competing for quality two-year-olds was the West Texas Futurity, held in Sonora, Texas, located right in the middle of the state. From a humble beginning purse of $3,175 in 1959, the race reach a plateau around the $25,000 mark by 1971. The venerable Quarter Horse Association of West Texas, founder and sponsor of the event, looked for a way to reenergize its growth. About about the same time the management of Sunland Park was trying to upgrade its own spring futurity program. In those days, the track offered the Sunland Spring Futurity, which reached $75,000 in 1970. But management knew that to truly make Sunland an early season destination, a stronger offering was needed. The first step was to make the existing stake into an earlier closing event that would generate more nominating and sustaining fees. The result was the Sun Country Futurity, which debuted in 1971 with $153,000 offered, more than twice that of its predecessor. Part 2 involved providing a second stakes opportunity. I’m not sure who first made contact, but a the parties got together at Sunland Park in late 1970 or early 1971 to make arrangements to move the West Texas Futurity to New Mexico. So, why not just create a new race rather than move an existing one? Principally to take advantage of the existing structure of the Quarter Horse Association of West Texas in helping to secure nominations and promote the event among horsemen not accustomed to Sunland racing. And it worked. The first running at Sunland was held in 1972 with a purse four times what it had been in Sonora. Through the years, the race went from being the first of two major spring events to its current position as the only open futurity at the meeting. And it is the first 1 one two-year-old event on the national stakes calendar. The roster of winners includes a number of outstanding horses and future champions, beginning with Walter Merrick’s Byou Bird in 1972. Three years later, eventual All American winner Bugs Alive in 75 won here as did 1988 World Champion Merganser. More recently, 2005 West Texas hero Leading Sprit went on to capture the first two legs of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown. Important sires like Mr Eye Opener and Stoli were also victorious. For the past 40 years, this has been one cross-border program that has proven mutually beneficial for all parties. Its name may underscore the fact that the race is a transplant, but there is no question that the West Texas Futurity is home. |
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