Flash flooding from the recent burn scars damaged the race track Saturday afternoon during trials for the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.
Residents near the Rio Ruidoso were told to evacuate to higher ground at about 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29, as dark waters rushed down, turning streets into raging rivers, showed video by the Village of Ruidoso shared on social media.
Several roads remain closed and an evacuation order for Upper Canyon was still in place on Sunday morning, the Village of Ruidoso said on X. A shelter was set up at White Mountain Relief Center at the White Mountain Sports Complex, 687 Hull Road.
The damage to the race track. occurred from debris that was carried down the Rio Ruidoso into the Ruidoso Downs community from flooding in midtown Ruidoso and other areas. Track officials are clearing mud and debris from the river that runs underneath the turn that leads into the backstretch.
All but two of the trials were completed before the flooding occurred on the race track. According to the nomination rules for the Rainbow Futurity, horses that were entered in the two cancelled races will receive a refund on their entry fees and will remain eligible for the Rainbow Derby as three-year-olds.
“Our track crew is working to protect the integrity of the track,” General Manager Rick Baugh said. “That is our priority right now. Every effort will be made to conduct racing on Sunday for the Rainbow Derby trials.”
Due to the damage from Saturday’s flooding, Sunday’s Rainbow Oaks and Rainbow Derby trials were moved to 12:30 p.m. on Monday.
“The safety of our athletes is always our top priority,” Baugh said. “We are working to make the race track safe again after the flooding and we believe we’ll be able to conduct the Derby trials tomorrow. We’re swiftly working to move forward with track repair but are required to meet government approval to pass environment standards.”
There will be five trials for the Oaks and eight trials for the Derby. Both are races in the 3-year-old division.
Favorite Fire V, a two-year-old filly in just her second career start, broke on top and held on by a neck to win the eighth trial race Friday and qualify for the $1 million Rainbow Futurity.
“She’s such a small filly that I was concerned she might get caught,” jockey Francisco Calderon said. “She left running and really kept her head down and did a nice job.”
The filly ran the 400-yards in 19.480 seconds just in front of Ohana Spirit who also qualified for the final to be run on Sunday, July 14. The other quarter horses to qualify include Aguilla Rapida, Little Vaquero and Space Cowwboyy, all winners in their respective trial races.
More: Horse Racing News Rainbow Futurity Trials at Ruidoso Downs race track returns after wildfires
Favorite Fire V is owned by Sammy Valeriano and trained by Heath Taylor.
Fdd Dreams and jockey Luis Martinez was the top qualifying horse on Saturday winning the seventh trial race in a time of 19.356 seconds for 400-yards. Other horses that qualified include Hezgotthelook Z, Candy Going Viral, Just Dulce and Highly Regarded V. The finals for the Rainbow Futurity will be held on Sunday, July 14.
Hezgotthelook Z won the Ruidoso Futurity earlier in June and still has hopes of winning a Triple Crown.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
