Runners chasing a two-state bragging right will get their chance this fall when the Flying Horse Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Giddy Up Fun Run return to Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino. The event is presented by United Way of El Paso County and sponsored by the City of Sunland Park, with the race starting and finishing at the racetrack.
According to KVIA, United Way of El Paso County will host the third annual edition of the race, which welcomes runners of all ages and abilities. The lineup again includes the half marathon, 10K and 5K distances alongside the family-friendly Giddy Up Fun Run around the racetrack, a category that runsignup.com describes as suitable for both first-time runners and experienced athletes, per its event registration page.
What sets Flying Horse apart from a typical fall road race is its border-crossing course. As KFOX reports, the routes offer runners a unique opportunity to run in two states, with the course extending from Sunland Racetrack through Sunland Park and into El Paso's Upper Valley. That two-state stretch has become a signature feature of the race since United Way of El Paso County took over its organization.
Registration Window Narrows Before Price Increase
The 2026 race is set for Saturday, November 14, though the runsignup listing citing that date carries lower confidence than other details confirmed on the same event page. What is confirmed is the registration deadline: prices are scheduled to increase after October 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT, per the same event page. As of that page's last capture, only 35 spots remained, though that figure can shift as registrations continue to roll in.
Runners can also register, select a nonprofit, and fundraise through the event's Race for a Cause program, a system that lets participants direct their fundraising toward a favorite local charitable initiative. That structure has been central to the race's identity since its founding, and the momentum has been building. United Way President and CEO Georgina Hernandez said the 2024 event rallied hundreds of participants and raised over $80,000 to support local nonprofits, according to KTSM.
From Race El Paso to United Way's Signature Event
The race itself dates back much further than its current organizers. Since 2011, the event has raised money for local nonprofits, per KFOX's reporting, and United Way of El Paso County officially acquired the Flying Horse Marathon from Race El Paso, which had organized it since its founding. The 2025 edition marked the event's second year of operation under United Way, according to Visit El Paso's event listing.
Last year's race was held Saturday, November 8, 2025, starting at 8 a.m. at Sunland Park Racetrack, and offered the same half marathon, 10K and 5K distances covering 13.1, 6.2 and 3.1 miles respectively, per Visit El Paso. The Giddy Up Fun Run made its debut that year as a first-time addition to the lineup, a detail KTSM's report on the race also confirmed.
Registration for this year's race is open on the event website, with participants of all ages and abilities encouraged to sign up before prices climb next month.
