Opening Weekend 2022
Ruidoso Downs Race Track Opens 2022 Racing Season Memorial Day Weekend
Ruidoso Downs, N.M. — Ruidoso Downs Race Track opens for the 2022 racing season this Friday, May 27, with trials for the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on Friday and Saturday, the (estimated) $850,000 Ruidoso Derby on Sunday and special holiday racing on Monday, May 30.
Post time is scheduled for Noon on Friday and Saturday, and 1PM on Sunday and Monday.
A packed house is expected to be on-hand to begin the 75th year of racing at Ruidoso Downs. Parking and admission are free, but reserved seating can be made in advance by telephone at (575) 378-4140 or www.raceruidoso.com.
There will be 15 races each day for the Ruidoso Futurity trials on Friday and Saturday, with the top 10 qualifying horses making the final of the race to be held on June 12. Sunday’s Ruidoso Derby trials feature 10 races. Last season’s All American Futurity winner, KJ Desparado, and Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurity winner Jess Savin Candy will be participating. The Ruidoso Derby final will be held on June 11. The holiday race card on May 30 features the $25,000 John Andreini Memorial Stakes.
As part of opening weekend, Ruidoso Downs welcomes a new group of permanent vendors that will be positioned throughout the grandstand and inside the new Santa Fe Furniture Events Center located just outside of Billy the Kid Casino. In addition, a number of festivals and events have been added to the calendar this year, including this weekend’s Heritage Antique Show and Sale.
The Heritage Antique Show, which is based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, will showcase nearly 20,000 square feet of antiques and collectables on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The show will be open from 10AM each day until approximately one hour after the end of racing. Admission to the show is $10 per person, but it will be $8 for seniors, military and teens.
Some of the top antique vendors expected to participate in the show are coming to Ruidoso Downs from Colorado, Michigan, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and Arizona. It will mark the first time that many of the vendors are appearing in this community.
Other upcoming festivals that are scheduled include the Tacos and Tequila Festival on June 3 – 5, featuring tequila samples by more than one dozen tequila brands; Ruidoso Marketplace on June 10 – 12, featuring Ruidoso-based vendors; the Ruidoso Downs Pro/Am Boxing Championships on June 17 – 18; the Ruidoso Jewelry Show on June 24 – 26; and the Red, Wine and Brews Festival on July 1 – 3.
In July, Ruidoso Downs will welcome fans to a concert series with four consecutive weekends of shows in the Santa Fe Furniture Events Center. They include Jason Boland and The Stragglers on July 9; Stoney LaRue on July 16; Josh Abbott Band on July 23; and Jake Hooker and The Outsiders with Will Banister on July 30. Tickets for all shows vary in price. Complete information is available at www.raceruidoso.com.
The August calendar includes two of the most popular festivals every season: the Zia Festival on August 5 – 7 that features New Mexico vendors during the weekend of top state-bred stakes events, and the Chile the Kid Beer and Wine Festival presented by City Bank on August 12 – 14 that will feature Eagles tribute band “One of These Nights.” The trials for the $3 million All American Futurity will be held on August 19 – 20, with the All American Derby trials scheduled for August 21.
Labor Day weekend features the All American Futurity final to be held on Monday, September 5 to wrap up the 2022 racing season.
For more information about the 2022 Ruidoso Downs Race Track season, visit www.raceruidoso.com, or call (575) 378-4140 to purchase tickets for the races or any festival or concert.
