Kentucky Derby Weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND

Kentucky Derby race approximate Post Time – 5:01pm MST

Ruidoso Downs to Host annual Kentucky Derby Party

         Ruidoso Downs will host an annual Kentucky Derby party in the Turf Club on Saturday, May 7. The public may reserve a table for four in the Turf Club for the afternoon for $50. Reservations can be made online at www.raceruidoso.com.

         Wagering on the Kentucky Oaks and Derby from Churchill Downs: Simulcast wagering on the Kentucky Derby will be held in the simulcast area and Billy’s Sports Bar on Friday and Saturday starting at 8 a.m. Advance wagering on the Kentucky Derby will begin on Friday.

         Friday, May 6 in the Turf Club: Turf Club will open at 11 a.m. on Friday with a $10 admission per person. Simulcast wagering will be held throughout the day and training races will begin at 1 p.m.  Food and beverage will be served.

         Saturday, May 7 in the Turf Club: Turf Club will open at 11 a.m. and the public can simulcast wager on all cards including Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Each $50 table (four people) will receive a complimentary appetizer from the new Turf Club menu. Training races will begin at 1 p.m.

There are several events happening that day at Ruidoso Downs that coincide with Kentucky Derby Weekend:

·      Foxworth Galbraith Home and Garden Show: The all-new Santa Fe Furniture Events Center will debut with a Home and Garden Show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 6th, 7th, and 8th. The show will feature 20,000-square feet of vendor space showcasing home improvement projects and outdoor living. Foxworth Galbraith Home Improvement Center is the featured sponsor and vendor. Admission is free, and the hours of the show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

·      Quarter Horse Training Races: Ruidoso Downs will offer training races to young quarter horses beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 6th and 7th. The majority of these horses are eligible for stakes events at the beginning of the live horse racing season on May 27th. Admission to the grandstand to watch the training races is free. There is no pari-mutuel wagering on the training races.

Turf Club Party Kentucky Derby Day:

         *Reservations: The Turf Club will open at 11 a.m. and each $50 table (four people) will be offered a complimentary appetizer from the new Turf Club menu. A lunch buffet will also be offered through the day.

         *Bourbon Tasting and Class in the Turf Club at 1 p.m.: Mike Cheyney, owner of Win Place & Show in midtown Ruidoso, will be hosting a special bourbon tasting and class from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The cost to attend the class is $50, which includes three one-ounce tastings of the following whiskeys: Breckenridge, Woodford and Oak & Eden. A complimentary lunch will be served. The tasting and class will be limited to 50 people.

                  *”Derby Dash for Cash” Drawing inside the Foxworth Galbraith Home and Garden Show: Patrons who attend the Kentucky Derby party will be given the chance to enter the “Derby Dash for Cash” Drawing.  They will fill out an entry form and take it to the Foxworth Galbraith Home Show to enter into the horse’s slot on the handicapping board, that you think will win. A $500 prize will be given to one person who is selected the winner.  At approximately 5:30 p.m., the winner will be selected from all entries who have selected the winning horse.  Must be present to win inside the Event Center to be eligible to win, only one entry per patron. Name drawn will have two minutes to claim prize, if prize is not claimed within the time limit, another name will be drawn and given the two minutes to collect until the prize is claimed. 

$500 Derby Hat Parade and Contest:

         Patrons attending on Kentucky Derby Party may enter to win a cash prize in “Derby Day Hat Contest”. We will have judges TBA for the competition.  Each contestant will be scored on a scale of 1-10.  The patron with the highest score will win the top prize, $150.00 Cash. Second place winner will receive $100.00 Cash. Third place will be given a $50.00 cash.  The hat contest will begin at 3:30pm in the Turf Club before winner’s are announced. Trophies will be presented.

Billy the Kid Casino: Casino will open at 10 a.m. Kentucky Derby weekend, Friday thru Sunday.