Revamped Stakes Schedule for 2015 Arapahoe Park Season

Arapahoe Park will feature two $100,000 Thoroughbred races—the Arapahoe Park Classic and the Gold Rush Futurity—on the same day for the first time in the racetrack’s history as part of a stakes schedule comprised of 38 races worth a total of $1,655,000. The highlights of the American Quarter Horse stakes schedule will be the $160,000 Mile High Futurity and the $100,000 Mile High Derby, and Arabians will compete in four graded stakes races during the 39-day season.

Opening day at the Aurora, Colorado, racetrack will be Friday, May 22, moved from the traditional Saturday opening. Racing will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as on Memorial Day Monday. There will also be two Thursday cards on June 25 and July 30. Post time for the first race each day will be at 1 p.m. No racing will take place from May 29 to May 31 to accommodate the Rocky Mountain Air Show at the Aurora Reservoir.

The 2015 season will climax on closing weekend. Closing day, Sunday, August 16, will be the richest day of horse racing in the history of Colorado with the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic for Thoroughbreds 3-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles, the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds at 6 furlongs, the $160,000 Mile High Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at 400 yards, and the $25,000 Grade 3 COBRA Classic Sponsored by Crow Valley Ranch for Arabians aged 3 years-old and up at 1 1/4 miles. Saturday, August 15, will feature the $100,000 Mile High Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horses at 400 yards, the $40,000 Spicy Stakes for Thoroughbred fillies and mares bred in Colorado at 1 1/16 miles, and the $25,000 Grade 3 COBRA Distaff Sponsored by Soaring Eagle Ranch for Arabian fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.

“This is going to be the biggest season we’ve ever hosted at Arapahoe Park,” Director of Racing Bill Powers said. “Not only are we excited for our Colorado-based horses but also for a good crop of horses to come to Colorado to contest our premier races.”

There will be a total of 10 stakes for Colorado-bred Thoroughbreds during the meet.

For a complete stakes schedule, go to www.mihiracing.com.