Arapahoe Park Releases 2008 Races Dates and Stakes Schedule, Tabs Slagle as New Racing Secretary

Aurora, Colorado – Officials at Mile High Racing & Entertainment have officially announced the live race dates and stakes schedules for the upcoming 2008 meet at Arapahoe Park . In addition, officials confirmed the hiring of Stuart Slagle as the Racing Secretary for the upcoming season. A total of thirty-six dates (36) has been scheduled for the 2008 meeting. The 2008 mixed meet will begin with three consecutive races days over the Memorial Day Weekend (Saturday May 24 – Monday May 26). Racing will be
conducted on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the season which ends on Sunday August 10th. The Memorial Day (Monday May 26) program is the only exception to the schedule. Post time daily is at 1:00 pm mt. (Final Arapahoe Park 2008 race dates are subject to formal approval by the Colorado State Racing Commission at its May 2008 monthly meeting.)

“Our 2008 closely mirrors that of 2007, except we race Fridays instead of Mondays,” said Director of Racing/Plant Manager, Bill Powers. “The early start date of Memorial Day weekend worked well for us last year that we decided to do it again in 2008. We did a pretty good job of getting fans to the track last season (a 13.7% increase in attendance in 2007) despite four less live dates. We are going to build on that this year and we hope to kick start our weekends off on Friday afternoons. One of our main goals this year is to get those folks to return in 2008 and to learn to play our game. We are working on some things that will have people thinking about Friday afternoons at Arapahoe Park as the start of their weekend.”

In addition to the release of the live dates, officials released the 2008 Stakes Calendar. Thirty-five events will be contested covering all of the different types of breeds run at the mixed meeting. Twenty (20) stakes events will be dedicated to thoroughbreds highlighted by the $30,000 added Gold Rush Futurity on Sunday August 10th. Quarter Horses will race in nine (9) added
money events including the $125,000 estimated Mile High Futurity on August 10th and the $100,000 estimated Rocky Mountain Futurity on July 12th. Arabians will be showcased in four (4) events highlighted by a pair of $20,000 estimated races; The Soaring Eagle Arabian Cup Distaff (August 9) and the Rocky Mountain Arabian Cup (August 10). Paints and Appaloosas will contest two (2) added money events including the $15,000 added Harvest Cup Futurity on August 10th.

New in the Racing Secretary’s office will be Stuart Slagle. Slagle, an eight year veteran in the business, served as the Racing Secretary at the Downs of Albuquerque during the 2007 Meet. Most recently he served as a racing official at Sunland Park in New Mexico . He has experience in multiple facets of racing including, Horse Owner, Journalist, Jockey Agent, Mutuel Clerk, Placing Judge, Assistant Racing Secretary and Racing Secretary. He has worked in several racing jurisdictions including, Texas , New Mexico and Iowa.

“My goal in 2008 is to increase our field sizes at Arapahoe Park ,” said Slagle. “I am working to bring in some new horsemen and will work with our established horsemen here in Colorado to integrate these outfits into the mix. If we can increase our field sizes our bettors should respond with increased wagering dollars creating a win-win for everyone. I was able to increase the field size at Albuquerque by nearly one starter per race and
hopefully I can do that at Arapahoe Park . I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”

Arapahoe Park will conduct a thirty-six (36) day race meet beginning on Saturday May 24, 2008. Racing will be conducted on a three-day per week schedule (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) and the meet will conclude on Sunday August 10, 2008. There will be one exception to the schedule with a special Monday May 26th card scheduled for the Memorial Day holiday. Post time for all races days is 1:00 pm mt.

About BLB Investors, LLC
BLB Investors, LLC (“BLB”) is a Connecticut based company comprised of three partners; Kerzner International Limited, Starbell Investors, LLC and Waterford Group, LLC. In July 2005, BLB acquired the U.S. holdings of Wembley USA, located in Rhode Island and Colorado; Twin River (formerly Lincoln Park in Rhode Island), Arapahoe Park, Mile High Greyhound Park, Havana Park, The Reserve at Cherry Creek, Post Time Greyhound Park and Pueblo Greyhound Park (Colorado).

For more information contact Sean Beirne at 303-288-1591 ext 1411.

Sean D. Beirne
V.P. Racing & Simulcast
Mile High Racing & Entertainment
10750 E. Iliff Avenue
Aurora, CO 80014
303-288-1591 ext. 1411

303-227-8893 (direct fax)