Page 89 - NM Spring 2019

RUIDOSO DOWNS
RUIDOSO DOWNS GEARS UP FOR EARLIER THAN USUAL OPENING
Ruidoso Downs will open its 54-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet on Friday, May 10, two weeks earlier than in recent years.
Due to Ruidoso Downs’ earlier opening, new stakes races have been added to the track’s schedule: The May 27, $100,000-est. Maiden Stakes for Quarter Horses aged 3-5 (trials to be run May 10), and the June 30, $45,000- est. Rita Danley Distaff Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses aged 3 and older. Also, the AQHA Regional Juvenile Challenge stakes for 2-year-old Quarter Horses has returned to the track and will be run June 2 (trials on May 17).
Ruidoso’s new stakes join the track’s several historic and prestigious Grade 1 Triple Crown stakes: the $3,000,000-est. All American Futurity and $1,000,000-est.
All American Derby (Sept. 1-2), the $1,000,000-est. Rainbow Futurity and $750,000-est. Rainbow Derby (July 20-21), and the $1,000,000-est. Ruidoso Futurity and $750,000-est. Ruidoso Derby
(June 8-9).
“Our early Mother’s Day weekend opening
has enabled us to add some key stakes races that we think will increase participation this summer,” said Ruidoso Downs president and general manager Jeff True. “Our signa- ture Quarter Horse races and several of our Thoroughbred races have shown significant increases in numbers, so we are looking for- ward to a great racing year.”
Ruidoso Downs will offer a $2-million Triple Crown Futurity Bonus to the owners
a horse who sweeps all three open futurities. Three-year-old Quarter Horses will race for the
$1-million Triple Crown Derby Bonus for any horse who wins the three open Grade 1 derbies.
New Mexico-bred racing will be cel- ebrated during the Zia Festival, July 27-28. Zia Festival weekend will feature 11 stakes during the two days, topped by the 400- yard, $400,000-est. Zia Futurity (RG1) for 2-year-old Quarter Horses.
Ruidoso Downs will open its barn area for set-up on Monday, Apr. 15. The barn area for horses will open Friday, Apr. 19. The track opens for training on Monday, Apr. 22.
Also, Ruidoso Downs will offer train- ing races for Quarter Horses every day from Monday, May 6-Wednesday, May 8.
For more information on Ruidoso Downs’ 2019 season, which runs through Monday, Sept. 2, visit the track’s website at www.raceruidoso.com.
by Michael Cusortelli
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SPRING 2019 87