The Rainbow Futurity, Rainbow Derby, and newly-created Rainbow Oaks trials are upon us, and there's no shortage of good horses lining up this weekend to contest 30 total trials for the Futurity on Friday and Saturday, as well as 8 Derby trials and 4 Oaks trials on Sunday.
Read MoreDue to continued concern regarding COVID-19 and because of the Public Health Order that is expected to remain in place for some time, Ruidoso Downs Race Track announced the cancellation of non-racing events.
Read MoreSaturday had mostly cloudy weather throughout the day, but as horses were getting ready to come on the track for the 9th race lightning strikes were nearby and then a large hail storm came down, postponing that event. After the weather died down things got back on track and the 10th race, albeit delayed, showcased stakes horses three-year-olds and upward going 350 yards.
Read MoreHaving raced just last weekend and running second after stumbling out of the gate, Shanghai Keely crossed the wire ahead of the field in today’s running of the $40,000 First Lady Handicap at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Facing a slight headwind on the homestretch of the 6-furlong race, the filly held off a late charge from the field to finish with a time of 1:09.67.
Read MoreSC Money Maker left the gate and never looked back today in the Grade II Higheasterjet Handicap at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. The Mike Robbins-trained gelding ran the 350 yards in a speedy:17.25 to capture the $24,000 winner’s share of the $40,000 purse. The win came after a lengthy delay caused by thundershowers and lightning in the area after which the race was run on a sealed track.
Read MoreCultura sits down with Jeff True, President and General Manager of Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino, to talk about the implications of the pandemic on horse racing in Ruidoso.
Read MoreFillies and Mares from many different track venues have gathered at Ruidoso Downs Race Track to compete in Sunday’s running of the $50,000 First Lady Handicap going six furlongs. Five of the eight starters have never raced here before.
Read MoreConsigliere, a four-year-old gelding owned by Rafter Stables and trained by Mike Joiner returns Saturday as the 7/2 favorite in Saturday’s $40,000 Higheasterjet Handicap at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.
Read MoreThis weekend's racing is highlighted by the Higheasterjet Handicap (G2), a $40,000 stakes for Quarter Horses three year olds and upwards going 350 yards to be run Saturday as the 10th race, as well as the First Lady Handicap, $50,000 guaranteed, for fillies and mares year olds and upward going six furlongs as Sunday's 10th race. Sunday's card consists of just Quarter Horse races and eight Thoroughbred races.
Read MoreJockey Luis Fuentes chats with Tim Keithley for The Inside Track.
Read MoreThe featured race was the Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Thoroughbred Futurity, worth $163,415 with $81,708 going to the winner. With the scratch of Shamefully Sweet a field of nine went postward. Todd Fincher trained five of the runners and while his One Mark drew the outside post, the remaining four had post positions one through four.
Read MoreMy Storm Warrior took home the top prize today in the running of the Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity even though Fill the Bill actually crossed the wire first. The turn of events happened after a lengthy Stewards’ Inquiry disqualified Fill the Bill from first-place to third-place for impeding the progress of eventual second-place finisher One Mark in the home stretch of the 5-furlong race.
Read MoreThere's a new face in the jockey colony this year at Ruidoso Downs and he's wasted no time making an impression in a big way. Twenty-year-old Luis Fuentes scored four victories in a single card on Saturday, June 6, and heading into this weekend has amassed 11 victories from 29 mounts with three seconds and four thirds to place him atop the thoroughbred rider's standings over Alfredo Juarez, Jr., who has eight wins from 33 mounts with eight seconds and three thirds.
Read MoreRuidoso Downs Race Track handicapping experts look at the field for the 2020 Belmont Stakes scheduled to be run June 20, 2020, at 5:42 pm EDT.
Read MoreTim Keithley talks with trainers for The Inside Track about the $125,000 Mountain Top New Mexico Thoroughbred Futurity to run on June 20, 2020.
Read MoreToday featured partly cloudy skies, just a moderate wind, and plenty of stakes action. The eighth race kicked off three stakes in a row beginning with the Rita Danley Distaff Stakes for New Mexico-bred QH fillies and mares three years old and up.
Read MoreSunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs Race Track included three premier races with Jess Cuz Pyc Can taking home the $89,176 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes, Close to Crazy winning the $40,000 Rita Danley Distaff and American Dubai finishing strong in the $25,000 Ruidoso Sprint Handicap.
Read MoreThe first of two stakes races today came with the Mountain Top QH Juvenile Stakes for two-year-olds who did not qualify for the Futurity Finals as race eight. Of the ten entrants in this event, the one to run fastest in the trials was Vine Master, trained by J.J. Gonzales and ridden by Sergio Becerra, Jr.
Read MoreLeading Cartel took home the $359,069 Grade II Mountain Top Futurity for 2-year-old New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs. Leading Cartel, a gelding by Big Daddy Cartel out of Leading Diva by Special Leader, is owned by Reliance Ranches, LLC (Micah Mckinney et al) and is trained by Mike Robbins.
Read MoreRuidoso Downs Race Track will open the Turf Club and Jockey Club to horse owners, members, and season ticket holders at 50% occupancy beginning on Friday, June 19th. Race track management was notified by Governor Lujan Grisham’s office late Wednesday afternoon that the Turf Club and the Ruidoso Jockey Club would be allowed to operate as restaurants using COVID-Safe Practices (CSPs).
Read More
