Harold Payne, general manager of Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, was named El Paso’s Sportsman of the Year for 2009 in an article in El Paso Inc. newspaper.
Following is the article as it appeared in the issue of Dec. 13-19, 2009.
“Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino is located just outside the El Paso city limits but Harold Payne is a full-fledged El Pasoan and what he has done for the Sunland operation is of legendary proportions.“When he took over as general manager in 1990 the track was in such dire conditions some horsemen were abandoning the track. He pleaded with and cajoled enough of them to stay and keep the track going by dangling hopes of a casino in the future. When the casino became a reality in 1999 and brought in revenue, Payne, with the blessing of owner Stan Fulton, oversaw installation of improvements in facilities and purses that have made Sunland Park Racetrack the jewel of Southwest horse racing. And this year, through years of hard and relentless work by him and his staff, the Sunland Derby was graded, which will give the track and El Paso even greater national prominence.”
Following is the article as it appeared in the issue of Dec. 13-19, 2009.
“Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino is located just outside the El Paso city limits but Harold Payne is a full-fledged El Pasoan and what he has done for the Sunland operation is of legendary proportions.“When he took over as general manager in 1990 the track was in such dire conditions some horsemen were abandoning the track. He pleaded with and cajoled enough of them to stay and keep the track going by dangling hopes of a casino in the future. When the casino became a reality in 1999 and brought in revenue, Payne, with the blessing of owner Stan Fulton, oversaw installation of improvements in facilities and purses that have made Sunland Park Racetrack the jewel of Southwest horse racing. And this year, through years of hard and relentless work by him and his staff, the Sunland Derby was graded, which will give the track and El Paso even greater national prominence.”