RUIDOSO SWITCHES TO ALL QUARTER HORSES, SETTING STAGE FOR RICHEST MEET IN HISTORY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Pending regulatory approval

Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico — February 19, 2025 — After careful consideration, Ruidoso Downs is ready to fully embrace its identity as the home of the All-American Triple Crown—an accolade recognized as “Quarter Horse Racing’s Most Coveted Prize.”

Rick Baugh, the track’s general manager said, “The floods from last summer have left us with having to make decisions that are realistic, timely and financially responsible.

“Knowing we would likely be unable to master a full reconstruction of the track that would allow for Thoroughbred racing, we are taking these circumstances that were beyond our control and we are moving forward with our focus on Quarter Horse racing.”

The New Mexico track that began racing both racing both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds nearly 80 years had a disastrous summer last year as the result major fires in Lincoln County. Those destructive fires were followed by flash floods that continually washed out the racetrack and other track improvements and eventually took out two major bridges leading into the track and casino that eventually forced track management to transfer its marquee races to Albuquerque for the remainder of the summer.

Over the past three years, across the nation sales of racing-bred American Quarter Horses have broken all records. The Quarter Horse sales at Ruidoso Downs have seen record prices set every year. The Quarter Horse Yearling Sales are a key part of the operation of the track at Ruidoso Downs, just as they are a major part of the communities of Lincoln County and the overall American Quarter Horse business across the nation.

In Oklahoma City curing the third weekend of January this year, Heritage Place Sales Co. once again broke records during its Winter Mixed Sale to kick off the 2025 sales. Likewise, in other racing jurisdictions horse sales have been very solid the past few years.

“It is time for Ruidoso Downs Racetrack to become the mecca of Quarter Horse racing that owners and breeders have long envisioned,” says Ruidoso Downs owner Johnny Trotter.

“Our intention is to enhance the racing experience for American Quarter Horses by focusing on high-quality products. We aim to establish a solid foundation for champions to demonstrate their worthiness, class and durability. This commitment requires us to concentrate on the Quarter Horse industry and its dedicated owners and breeders that continue to support Ruidoso Downs.

“Our goal is to reinvest the investments of all owners through racing and horse sales while fostering a robust breeding industry in New Mexico and the surrounding states. Just as Churchill Downs, Pimlico, and Belmont Park have embraced and developed their triple crowns, we aspire to do the same with the All-American Triple Crown and the American Quarter Horse,” Trotter said.

Here’s what several industry leaders had to say when told informed about Ruidoso Downs going to a straight Quarter Horse meet beginning this May:

Gary McKinney, whose Reliance Ranches owns and operates Lazy E Ranch in Oklahoma and also has ranches in Texas, has long been racing in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and California. He said, “I’m very pleased with the decision. It is great for Quarter Horse racing in general. This Ruidoso track has always been a premier Quarter Horse venue. This decision is very good for the city of Ruidoso, and it will perpetuate this track as a proving ground for great horses and horsemen.”

Butch Wise of Oklahoma, former AQHA president and long-time industry leader, said: “This is a Sputnik moment. There will be lots of changes and Ruidoso can become to us Quarter Horse people like summers at Saratoga are to Thoroughbred people. This is a bold move, but these are bold men who love their Quarter Horses and are good, solid businessmen with deep roots in racing. This could give some room on the racing schedule to revive some older horse races like the World’s Championship Classic, which used to be the best older horse race in the nation!” Mac Murray, who with his wife Dr. Janis Spencer Murray, owns MJ Farms in New Mexico and always ranks among the top breeders in the nation, said, “Of course, we find this very exciting. We are all Quarter Horse, and we are all Ruidoso. While we race some and sell some in other states, our main focus is at Ruidoso. We moved here (from Utah) because of Ruidoso. But we would have never dreamed that Ruidoso would be all Quarter Horse. Our hats are off to Johnny and Jana and Rick and to everyone who made this happen.

Ryan Robicheaux of Louisiana, whose family owns Robicheaux Ranch, annually brings a major consignment to the track’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. “We have been running straight Quarter Horse meets in Louisiana, and it really works out well for us. Selling yearlings at Ruidoso on Labor Day weekend is a major part of our business year. I think the plan that Johnny and Rick have for the future of this business (Quarter Horse racing) is very bold and a good plan. We support it 100%.

Jeff Tebow, who is chief executive officer at Heritage Place and is in line to be president of the AQHA later this spring, said, “I believe that this is one of the most positive things that could happen in racing. With the racing opportunities that an owner can have to start running their Quarter Horses in Oklahoma in March and then in Ruidoso in May and then at Lone Star in September . . . in what are basically straight Quarter Horse meets . . . who would ever have dreamed that this could happen? I think this really solidifies the future of the American Quarter Horse in racing.”

Keith Nellesen, a Utah resident who ranks among the breed’s leading owners and breeders, said, “While we have not run a lot of horses at Ruidoso, Ruidoso has been a major part of our program because of the sales. However, at an all Quarter Horse meet, I am sure we will be there more often. It’s been pretty much futurity and derby horses, but now I feel this will afford management the opportunity to enhance their older horse program.”

Bill Melson, long-time ranch manager for No. 2 all-time breeder Bobby Cox, said, “This is a breath of fresh air for American Quarter Horse racing. We race our horses all over the country, but we know how important Ruidoso Downs is to this business. This is game-changing in a good day for racing. All of us at Cox Ranch thank Johnny Trotter and Rick Baugh and everyone involved in this. Today is a red-letter day.

Oklahoma horseman Cole Morehead, who owns Royal Vista Ranch in Oklahoma, said, “This could be a very positive step for American Quarter Horse racing. It will expand racing opportunities at what most people agree is our showcase event. It is really encouraging to see so many people working together to make things better for everyone.”

Oklahoma-based trainer Jason Olmstead has ranked among the nation’s Top 10 trainers for the past few years. He says: “It’s hard to get in overnight races at Ruidoso Downs. It ought to help. That’s three or four more races a day offered where it gives a guy more opportunities to get those Quarter Horses in. There’s enough horses in that part of the country that it will work. If they (Ruidoso Downs) don’t let Thoroughbreds run there, that opens up that many more stalls. It will open up more opportunities to run.” Running a straight Thoroughbred meet elsewhere could help Thoroughbred racing, as well, Olmstead pointed out.

Baugh also said that construction crews are busy today at Ruidoso Downs and that work is planning is underway on a stakes schedule for the meet that opens the last week in May.

“We’ll be ready,” he said.