US Racing Track Guide: Zia Park

Betfair now offers Exchange markets on a whole host of tracks in the United States. In his latest in-depth guide, US racing handicapper Dean Keppler takes a look at Zia Park...

Zia Park

What kind of racecourse is it?

• The track is a 1-mile traditional dirt oval.

Tell me something I don't know about this track

• Zia Park Casino, Hotel & Racetrack is the premiere entertainment destination for Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas.

When do they race?

(Thoroughbreds & Quarter Horses Mixed) Mainly Saturday through Tuesday afternoons September Through December - starting at 20:10 p.m. GMT

Best Ever Race - Zia Park Oaks November 26, 2014

The $300,000 Zia Park Oaks, scheduled for November of each year is the track's most prestigious event. The 1 1/16 mile race for three-year-old fillies is the most lucrative thoroughbred race for female horses ever contested in the state of New Mexico. The Zia Park Oaks was created with the hope of landing the track its first graded stake for Thoroughbreds.

In 2014, Cassatt, whom owners Rick and Betsy Porter of the Fox Hill Farm named in honor of impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, scored a gate-to-wire victory by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:42.29 ridden by Kerwin Clark. The daughter of Gainesway's leading sire, Tapit, was bred in Kentucky by Greg Goodwin's Mt. Brilliant Farm and trained by Larry Jones.

Most Popular Jockeys

Hebert, Tracy J.
Carreno, Jorge
Tohill, Ken S.

Most Popular Trainers

Fincher, Todd W.
Marr, Joel H.
Evans, Justin R.

How to find winners at Zia Park...

The Zia Park surface is usually fair which makes for an exciting handicapping product. Look for trainer Todd Fincher with 1st and 2nd off the layoff runners. This is especially effective early in the meet. Trainer Henry Dominguez with 1st time starters and second career starters. Trainer Greg Green with 2nd and 3rd off the layoff horses. Any horse that starts from the Justin Evans barn must be given immediate consideration. This
conditioner wins at a solid 27% clip the past 4 years with is overall starters and is also very proficient with 1st off the Claim runners (30%).

Draw Positions

In sprint races post 1 through 7 are best and most preferred at Zia. In route events, the middle draws (post 4 through 8) are best and posts 9 through 12 are least desirable.

Running Styles
Early speed and presser types are equally effective in sprint and route dirt races at Zia. When betting Zia Park look out for... Bettors can't go wrong with the jockey/trainer combination of Henry Dominguez and Enrique Gomez which stands close to 60%. Another strong combo includes trainer Miguel Hernandez and jockey Miguel Perez. Their winning clip is at a solid 35%. Trainer Larry Jones rarely makes an appearance at Zia, but when he does it's usually in a stakes race. He wins at an incredibly high percentage.