Ruidoso Downs Racetrack
What started with racing in a field in the 1930s has grown into New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs, which plays host each year to the All American Futurity, the richest Quarter horse race in the world, with a purse of $2 million.
Ruidoso Downs Track Layout
Ruidoso Downs is the only track in North America with a seperate racing lane for Quarter horse racing. The track also houses the Racehorse Hall of Fame.
Track History & Facts
The first race at Ruidoso Downs took place in 1947 and horse racing has been a staple in New Mexico ever since. At that time the track was little more than a plowed road with volunteers acting as judges.
Ruidoso Downs is now a racing facility that features both thoroughbred and Quarter horse racing and boasts the All American Futurity, the biggest race around when it comes to Quarter horse racing. The All American Futurity first went in 1959 and had a purse of almost $130,000, but now the race now features a $2-million total purse, the richest of its kind.
The main track is now a finely-groomed dirt surface of seven furlongs, while the quarter horse track checks in at 550 yards. The distance from the final turn to the finish is 660 feet.
New Mexico's favorite track also features simulcast betting and the 20,000-square foot Billy the Kid Casino, which opened in 1999 after casinos were legalized in race tracks.
Ruidoso Downs does dining right, with Billy's Sports Bar and Grill right across from the casino, and the All American Turf Club, with special event catering fit to satisfy any group.
Parking and general admission are free every day at Ruidoso Downs, though you can upgrade to reserved seats in the grandstand, or Turf Club seats in the second level for an additional charge.
Ruidoso Downs Betting Odds
When you can’t get to the track, wagering through an online racebook is the best way to get in on the action. Our recommended racebooks give competitive odds, and guaranteed customer service.
