RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–JUNE 20, 2024–Rick Baugh, general manager at Ruidoso Downs announced the staff in the track’s racing office tomorrow (Friday) will be taking entries for the June 28-29 trials of the $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity.

With the villages of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs and several other communities in Lincoln  County having been evacuated due to two major fires in the area, Ruidoso Downs Race Track has become a hub of activity.

“We fed 600 first responders here at the track yesterday (Wednesday), and we have two mobile phone cell towers set up and the Department of Public Safety has set up temporary headquarters here”, said Baugh “With the heavy rains that have come in the last 24 hours, the river has really been rolling but it is under control. We have handled both fires and floods before, and we are prepared for them.”

Baugh said while many horsemen evacuated horses from the backside of Ruidoso earlier in the week, the veteran horsemen who chose to remain with the horses at the track during this ordeal all appear to be in good shape.

“At this time, we plan to run next weekend trials for the Rainbow Futurity on June 28-29 and to run trials for the Rainbow Derby and Rainbow Oaks on June 30.”

The 2023 Rainbow Futurity had 308 head run in 32 trials spread over two days. The Rainbow Derby had 88 head in nine heats in 2023 while the Rainbow Oaks had 43 head in six heats.

Through the April 15 payment, 571 head were eligible for the next week’s Rainbow Futurity trials.

Through the April 1 payment, 199 head of three-year-olds were eligible in run in next week’s trials for either the Rainbow Derby or Rainbow Oaks.

“It is our full intention to run these trials and the finals of these races as scheduled,” said Baugh. “We understand that things beyond our control could happen to prevent us from running these trials, but we feel the prudent thing to do at this juncture is to be ready to run the trials next week as scheduled.”

Contacts for Entries:

  • abarton@raceruidoso.com
  • jzamora@raceruidoso.com 

Jockey Agents:

  • Tony Dominquez – 575 937 3632
  • Alex Flores – 505 569 4669
  • Mike Kelley – 505 553 8271
  • Rick Kloeppel – 505 362 2071
  • Jonny Montes – 575 430 7547
  • Donnie Stewart – 817 903 8139
  • Julie Stewart – 817 501 9878
  • Ryne Valerio – 505 492 4145

The ten-day mandatory rule of being on the grounds has been waved by the New Mexico Racing Commission.