Horse Racing: A Ruidoso Downs Staple for 70 Years
The phrase “Ruidoso Downs” is synonymous with our local horse racing track of the same name, a storied institution since the 1940’s. The Ruidoso Downs Race Track opens for business May 27, officially launching the summer racing season. The Ruidoso area — with a population of just under 8,000 year-round residents — is expected to host as many as 30,000 visitors over Memorial Day Weekend.
For those new to horse racing, let’s get down to basics. There are two kinds of race horses: quarter horses and thoroughbreds. Quarter horses are sprinters. They run short races, often 400 meters or less. Thoroughbreds, on the other hand, run longer races and maintain lower average speeds. While both types of horses can reach top speeds of 55 miles per hour, quarter horses maintain this high speed throughout their short races, where as thoroughbreds usually average about 40 miles per hour over the course of their races.
The Ruidoso Downs Race Track is famously home to the All-American Futurity, the world’s richest quarter horse race, with a purse of $3 million. To put this into perspective, the purse for the Kentucky Derby earlier this year was a measly $2 million.
The three internationally known races that comprise the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes) are thoroughbred races. In Ruidoso, however, it’s all about the sprinters.
Ruidoso Downs Race track hosts its own “triple crown,” run entirely by speedy quarter horses. Horses go through many time-trial races in order to qualify for these big races, the first of which begin this weekend. All three races have purses of at least $1 million. The three featured races are as follows:
• Ruidoso Futurity (July 24, 2016)
• Rainbow Futurity (June 12, 2016)
• All-American Futurity (Sept. 5 / Labor Day Weekend)
In 70 years, the race track has been through many changes. Originally evolving after a flood passed through the area in the early 1940’s, the venue has hosted concerts, festivals, the world famous Cowboy Symposium, and even ostrich races.
These days, like many large-capacity destinations across the nation, there is something for everyone. An adjacent casino was opened in 1999, offering video gaming and slot machines as well as Billy’s Sports Bar & Grill, with live music on some evenings. An arcade is available for kids, and eating and drinking options are sprinkled throughout the facility and grandstands. Admission is free in the grandstands, and memberships and pay-per-visit options are available at the Jockey Club and Turf Club, located upstairs.
Ask 10 different people the best way to wager on the ponies and you might get 10 different answers. Tip sheets are available for purchase at the track, as well as from convenience stores around Ruidoso. Racing programs can also be bought at the same locations, generally available the evening before each race day.
Reading a racing program is a science in and of itself, so we’ll just go over the basics. You’ve heard the term “win, place, and show,” right? This essentially represents first, second, and third place. If you bet the minimum $2 on a horse to “show,” for example, that horse can come in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd and you will win your money back, plus some. The favorites will pay less, obviously, and the long shots will earn higher payoffs. If you bet on a horse to win, the horse must come in 1st place. And so on and so on.
“Post time” is the time at which the horses come out onto the track before each race. This gives the audience a chance to see the horses and their jockeys as they warm up before the race. Post times are marked by the playing of the iconic trumpet, and post time for the first race of the day is generally 1:00pm. You can expect 20 to 25 minutes between each race, giving you ample time to get some food and place your bets.
Regardless of your agenda, a day at the track watching the horse racing action can be enjoyed in many ways. Expect large crowds on holiday weekends and be sure and take advantage of the free shuttle, running to and from the parking lots. Last but certainly not least, have great time and good luck!
—Leroy Smith
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The Ruidoso Downs Race Track
26225 US-70, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
(575) 378-4431
Billy the Kid Casino
26225 US-70, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
(575) 378-4431
Cowboy Symposium
26225 US-70, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
(575) 378-4140
