Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino awaits approval for horse racing after trials were canceled because of flooding from burn scars left by recent wildfires near the village of Ruidoso.
The proposed rescheduling dates of trials for the Graden1 $800,000 Rainbow Derby and $482,000 are Saturday, July 6, and Sunday, July 7.
The New Mexico Racing Commission held an emergency session on Tuesday, June 2, to decide on the approval of the rescheduled races.
Eight trials for the Rainbow Derby are proposed for the race card on Saturday, July 6, and five trials for the Rainbow Oaks on Sunday, July 7. The finals for both stakes events would occur two weeks later during the Zia Festival, Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21.
The Rainbow Derby is the second leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown for 3-year-old quarter horses. The Ruidoso Derby was held last month. The Rainbow Oaks is for 3-year-old fillies.
The Derby and Oaks trials were postponed on June 30 due to flooding caused by burn scars from the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire in the Ruidoso area. Workers continue to repair the damage created by the flooding in hopes that racing will continue Thursday, July 4.
Trials for the Ruidoso Futurity were held last June 28-29, but the flooding canceled the last two trials.
Ruidoso Downs General Manager Rick Baugh met with horsemen on Monday afternoon in the racing office to listen and hear their input about the proposed rescheduling of the trials.
“We are doing everything in our power to repair the damage to the race track,” Baugh said earlier this week.
Baugh was hopeful the quarter horse track could be available for quarter horse training as early as Wednesday morning. He said the thoroughbred track’s six-furlong chute has been severely damaged and it might be considerably longer before the track can continue with thoroughbred training and racing.
“The quarter horse portion of our racetrack is unscathed from the floods,” Baugh said. “The first turn of the thoroughbred track sustained the flood damage and we are working as fast as we can to make those necessary repairs.”
Meanwhile, crews are using excavators to make the river channel much wider and deeper as it goes through the track’s property in the event of further floodwaters.
Baugh said it would take at least two weeks before thoroughbreds could start racing again. Currently, horses aren’t able to train and that will cause issues moving forward with horses being fit.
Commissioners, trainers and agents expressed concern about thoroughbreds. All mentioned looking into opening Albuquerque Downs to have thoroughbred races and possibly even quarter horse races.
Finding a gate crew and stewards, as well as the cost of running a race day, would be a few issues with opening up Albuquerque.
“We need to Albuquerque immediately,” horse owner Tom McKenna said. “We can have a two-day-a-week meet. We can’t kick the can down the road.”
“It’s imperative to get horses back in training. Every time something happens, we lose lots of horsemen. If it works out to go to Albuquerque, then let’s get it done. If we can run here in Ruidoso, let’s get it done,” horse trainer Joel Marr said.
More: Ruidoso weather news Flash flooding cause damages, delays horse races at Ruidoso Race Track and Casino
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes. com; @Fchavezeptimes on X.
