Page 38 - New Mexico Summer 2021

THE NEWS
RUIDOSO DOWNS MEET OPENED MAY 28
Ruidoso Downs opened its 47-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse race meet on Friday, May 28.
The track offers live racing primarily on a Friday-through-Sunday schedule, with holiday programs on Memorial Day Monday, May 31, and slated for Labor Day Monday, September 6.
Ruidoso Downs’ $8-million Triple Crown program will once again be the focal point of the season. The Triple Crown races consist
of the $1-million Ruidoso Futurity (G1)
and $750,000 Ruidoso Derby (G1) on June 12-13; the $1-million Rainbow Futurity (G1), $500,000 Rainbow Derby (G1), and $350,000 Rainbow Oaks on July 24-25; and the $3 million All American Futurity (G1), $700,000
All American Derby (G1), and $350,000 All American Oaks on September 5-6.
Two stakes for Quarter Horses have been added to Ruidoso Downs’ schedule: the $150,000 Mountain Top Derby for 3 year olds on June 19, and the $25,000 Jess Burner Stakes for 4 year olds and older on September 4.
Ruidoso Downs’ annual Zia Festival, featuring stakes for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, will take place the weekend of July 31-August 1. The track will also play host to two AQHA/Bank of America Racing Challenge regional stakes on August 28: the 350-yard, $75,000 John Deere Ruidoso Downs Juvenile Challenge (G3), and the 400-yard, $50,000 Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge.
Ruidoso Downs has also implemented a new online ticketing system that is designed to make ticket purchasing and seat selection easier for customers. Available season ticket tables are on sale at www.raceruidoso.com, or by calling the track’s box office at (575) 378-4140.
Ruidoso Downs will once again host
the Ruidoso Handicapping Challenge on August 14. The winner of this contest will be awarded a seat in the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Last year’s contest generated a great deal of interest and drew talented handicappers to Ruidoso Downs, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information on the Ruidoso Downs race meet, visit the track’s website at www.raceruidoso.com.
RACE A DAY REPORT FOR SUNRAY PARK
SUNRAY PARK HAS RUN 65 NEW MEXICO BRED RACES IN 18 DAYS THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
2021 – 18 DAYS 2019 COMPARISON – 17 DAYS
35 TB OVERNIGHT - $94,500 19 QH OVERNIGHT - $58,500
$153,000 $295,000
23 TB OVERNIGHT 24 QH OVERNIGHT 4 QH TRIALS
4 TB STAKES
3 QH STAKES
4 QH TRIALS 4 TB STAKES 3 QH STAKES
- $165,000 - $130,000
65 TOTAL $448,000 58 TOTAL
3.62 AVERAGE PER DAY 39 TB + 26 QH = 65
+11 FOR THREE A DAY
3.41 AVERAGE PER DAY 27 TB + 31 QH = 58
+7 FOR THREE A DAY
TB = 260 HORSES / 35 NM BRED OVERNIGHT RACES FOR AN AVERAGE OF 7.43 QH = 147 HORSES / 19 NM BRED OVERNIGHT RACES FOR AN AVERAGE OF 7.74 COMBINED = 407 HORSES / 54 NM BRED O/N RACES FOR AN AVERAGE OF 7.54
NEW MEXICO BREDS IN OPEN OVERNIGHT RACES AT SUNRAY PARK THROUGH 5/23/21
YEAR #OF HORSES’
2021 245 2019 281
Came in 1st, % TB QH 2nd or 3rd
96 40 42 54 63 29 35 28
Amount Paid
$125,909.90 $ 87,202.40
36 New Mexico Horse Breeder