Trials for the Zia Futurity and Zia Derby will be held Friday and Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track with first post scheduled for 1 p.m. all weekend.

      On Friday, two-year-old quarter horses will compete in trials for the $386,720 Zia Futurity at 400-yards. There will be twelve races with the top-ten fastest times of the day advancing to the final of the New Mexico-bred stakes event to be held during the Zia Festival on Sunday, July 16.

     Saturday’s races features trials for the $205,419 Zia Derby for three-year-old New Mexico-bred quarter horses at 400-yards. There will be six trial races out of eleven on the card with the top-ten fastest times advancing to the finals on Saturday, July 15 during Zia Festival weekend.

     Saturday evening, the Eli Young Band will perform in the Events Center across from the main grandstand. Doors will open immediately following the races and the show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

                                     Tickets to the concert are available at www.raceruidoso.com or telephone the box office at 575-378-4140.

     Sunday’s races features both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing with eleven races on the card beginning at 1 p.m.