The latest flooding incident at Ruidoso Downs will be the final chapter in the track’s tumultuous 2024 season as the remainder of the meet will be transferred to The Downs at Albuquerque. The announcement was made July 21 following an agreement with state racing officials and Albuquerque owner Paul Blanchard.
“We are all working in coordination to do what is best for the New Mexico racing industry,” said Ruidoso Downs general manager Rich Baugh in a statement.
June wildfires devastated most of the surrounding area, destroying buildings and vegetation. Although the track was spared by the fire, the “burn scars” have allowed rainwater and debris to flow unopposed down the Rio Ruidoso, which runs through the middle of the racetrack and the barn area.
Flash flooding July 20 canceled the final races of the day’s card as it caused major damage to the race track and barn area as well as two bridges located near the entrance of the facility.
Flood Damage at Ruidoso Downs
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“The safety of our customers, employees and animals are most important,” Baugh said. “Ruidoso Downs will take the necessary steps over the course of the offseason to make our necessary repairs.”
The idea of shifting the Ruidso meet, which was scheduled to end Sept. 2, to Albuquerque was debated at a July 2 emergency meeting of the New Mexico Racing Commission. At the time, commissioners requested that Albuquerque work on a plan to open earlier than their scheduled Aug. 29 date.
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“We have planned for this to happen,” said NMRC Executive Director Izzy Trejo on the readiness of Albuquerque to start the meet. “It’s just a matter of moving staff and getting housing in Albuquerque on the fly.”
Trejo said that racing at Albuquerque could begin as early as July 26, but deferred to the tracks to make this decision official as the commission has not been involved in the details of the official plan at this time. Calls to the general managers of Ruidoso Downs and The Downs at Albuquerque were not immediately returned.
Meanwhile, Trejo said the NMRC is focused on getting everything ready for racing at Albuquerque, including readying the timing systems, photo finish camera, test barn, and making sure the track surface is safe.
Flood Damage at Ruidoso Downs
In the statement, Baugh said there are “plenty of moving parts” to the decision as they work to reschedule some of the track’s major Quarter Horse races. In addition, the track was scheduled to host the New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale Aug. 9-10 and the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Baugh said plans call for the sales to be held in Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque.
“We understand the tremendous economic impact of moving the remainder of the racing season will have on the Ruidoso community,” Baugh said. “We are left with little choice based on the current condition of our track, bridges and barn area. We have suffered a setback, but are determined to build back Ruidoso Downs and make it a beautiful facility and return racing here in 2025.”
This story may be updated.