Page 81 - New Mexico Horse Breeder, Fall

RUIDOSO DOWNS
Ruidoso Downs Meet Recap
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in the mountains of southern New Mexico ended its first season under new ownership on Labor Day, Sept. 3.
The sale of Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and its Billy The Kid Casino, as well as its Ruidoso Horse Sale Company, from R.D. Hubbard to All American Ruidoso Downs LLC closed on October 12, 2017. The new ownership group took over the iconic track with a promise to ensure the integrity of racing at Ruidoso Downs, and, in cooperation with the New Mexico Racing Commission, it implemented state-of- the-art testing for illegal substances (both in- and out-of-competition) and enhanced security measures designed to deter and defend against cheating.
Further improvements to the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack property included renovating its Billy The Kid Casino with new gaming machines and decor, and basic infrastructure improvements to the barn area, grandstand, and track property. In addition, a new receiving barn opened, and a new 8,640-square foot chapel was opened for services in July.
Other renovations included a new grandstand roof, a rebuilt infield saddling paddock, new network infrastructure that allowed for wireless wagering, and an upgraded high-definition feed to be sent to television broadcasts and off-track betting sites.
Ruidoso Downs reported total handle of $26.4 million for the 47-day meet, an increase of 10 percent over the $24 million wagered during the tracks 52-day meet in
2017. On-track handle improved 4 percent to $10.2 million, and total out-of-state handle reached $12.3 million, up 24 percent from last year.
Also, the Ruidoso Downs Billy The Kid Casino reported an 8-percent increase in coin-in revenue compared to the same period last year. Purses were increased 10 percent during the second week of the racing season, and $90,000 in added stakes and overnight races during the final weeks of the meet.
“Our first season was gratifying to the extent that we made some policy choices and some investments that fans and horsemen responded to favorably,” said track president and general manager Jeff True.
On the racing side, a crowd announced at 13,218 attended the races on closing day, and it saw Bill T. Robbins’ Apocalyptical Jess win the 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1), Quarter Horse racing’s richest and most prestigious race. On September 2, Hotstepper, a gelding owned by a four-man partnership, won the 440- yard, $1,238,655 All American Derby (G1), the sport’s richest race for 3-year-olds.
Ricky Ramirez was Ruidoso Downs’ leading Quarter Horse jockey with 38 wins from 194 mounts, 13 more than runner-up Adrian Ramos, who rode the winners of 25 races from 165 mounts. Raul Ramirez Jr., who rode Apocalyptical Jess to his victory in the
All American Futurity, led all Ruidoso Downs jockeys in mount earnings at $2,329,708.
Blane Wood, the trainer of Apocalyptical Jess, and Wes Giles tied for the track’s Quarter Horse trainer title with 32 wins
each. Wood was Ruidoso Downs’ leading trainer in starting earnings at $2,993,230. Melvin Neugebauer of Manzanola,
Colorado, and Valeriano Racing Stables LLC tied for Ruidoso’s leading Quarter Horse owner title with six wins apiece. Robbins was the meet’s leading Quarter Horse owner in purse earnings at $1,506,400, all of which was banked by Apocalyptical Jess from four races.
On the Thoroughbred side, Tracy Hebert rode the winners of 34 races from 118 mounts to lead all jockeys. Runner- up Frank Reyes won 25 races from 138 mounts. Hebert also led all Ruidoso riders with mount earnings at $319,945.
Todd Fincher was Ruidoso Downs’ top Thoroughbred trainer with 21 winners from 77 starters, four more than Casey Lambert, who sent out 17 winners from 89 starters. Fincher, who also had a string of Thoroughbreds at Del Mar Racetrack in California during the summer, led all Ruidoso Thoroughbred trainers in starter earnings with $368,756.
Ruidoso Downs’ leading Thoroughbred owners, J. Kirk and Judy Robison of El Paso, Texas, won 11 races from 28 starters, four more than runner-up Gerald Marr, who won seven races from 30 starters.
The Robisons were also the meet’s leading owners in purse earnings at $218,738. Ruidoso Downs will open its 2019
season on May 10, two weeks earlier than its traditional start on Memorial Day weekend. The 54-day season will run through Labor Day, September 2.
by Michael Cusortelli
FALL 2018 79