Training Races Set For May at Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (March 28, 2011) – Training races for 2-year olds are being scheduled at Ruidoso Downs to support horsemen preparing prospects for the summer season at Ruidoso Downs that begins with trials to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity on May 27.

The 330-yard training races will be held on Monday, May 9 and additional training races will be provided on May 10 and 11, if needed. The May 9 training races will be 18 days before the Ruidoso Futurity trials. Each race will be limited to six horses.

The training races will begin at 8:30 a.m. each day. On training-race mornings, plans call for the track to open at 6 a.m. and then close at 8:00 a.m. for renovation.

The papers of horses participating in the training races must be in the racing office by May 2 and the training races will be drawn on May 5.

The training races follow a weekend with the full-card simulcast wagering on the Kentucky Oaks program from Churchill Downs on May 6 and the simulcast of the Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs on May 7. Wagering and special promotions will be offered in Billy’s Race Book and Sport’s Bar.

The 60-day summer season at Ruidoso Downs is capped by the Grade 1, $2,400,000 (est.) All American Futurity on Labor Day, the world’s richest quarter horse race.

The All American Triple Crown is comprised of the Ruidoso Futurity on June 12, the Grade 1, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity on July 24 and then the All American Futurity. If a horse wins all three futurities then that horse’s connections earn the $4,000,000 All American Triple Crown Bonus, the richest in quarter horse racing.