Press Release:

Ruidoso Downs is under new ownership and management resulting from a recently completed acquisition. The new owners of Ruidoso Downs and the Ruidoso Horse Sale company have invested in this iconic track specifically to create a racing and sales environment that will provide fairness, stability, and integrity for all who race, buy and sell here. Simply stated, the opportunity to race at Ruidoso Downs is a privilege granted by its owners and not a right. And for that privilege, rules must be followed.

In 2017, Ruidoso Downs Racing, Inc., which owned and operated Ruidoso Downs for more than 30 years, worked closely with the New Mexico Racing Commission (NMRC) to make significant strides in out of competition testing, in establishing new race day medication standards, and in creating a more level playing field for racing’s stakeholders.   We applaud their efforts and seek to continue those efforts in 2018 and beyond.

Accordingly, the All American Ruidoso Downs (AARD) ownership and management will document the racing program rules and requirements in advance of the Triple Crown (Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American Races) nomination period so that owners and trainers, breeders, buyers and sellers, can all plan for their nomination and racing investments in 2018.

The stated parameters and rules of participation have been developed by AARD in close cooperation with NMRC and will be adhered to by all Ruidoso Downs racing participants. In many cases the rules stated below are codified by the New Mexico law and NMRC regulations, and restated here for clarity and conformity. AARD and NMRC wish to provide a racing program that enables every breeder, owner and trainer to compete on a level playing field.

Furthermore, an in-depth review of the policies and conditions under which racing has been conducted at Ruidoso Downs was performed by a panel of experts and consultants led by Dr. Glenn Blodgett. Recommendations were made and will be aggressively pursued during the ensuing months and years at Ruidoso Downs.

We cordially and enthusiastically invite all the racing stakeholders to join us in 2018 for the 72nd year of racing in Ruidoso.

2018 Policies and Procedures for Ruidoso Downs Racing 

  1. Per NMRC rule (15.2.6.9 (J)), any race horse stabled at Ruidoso Downs, any horse with papers in the Ruidoso racing office, and any horse nominated to stakes race (whether stabled on grounds or not) will be subject to Out of Competition Testing (OOCT) by licensed NMRC personnel at any time.
  2. Any horse which tests positive for a prohibited substance pursuant to OOCT (including any Class A drug, any blood or gene doping agents, clenbuterol, or any androgenic-steroidal agents as defined by the ARCI Uniform Classification Guidelines) will be put on the Stewards List for no less than 60 days and will only be considered for entry pending the outcome of further dispositive testing, (per NMMAC 15.2.6.9).
  3. All horses qualifying to a graded stakes race conducted at Ruidoso Downs will be subject to post race testing of blood and urine and OOCT using blood urine or hair testing procedures performed by the NMRC.
  4. No horse will be eligible to compete in a stakes final, consolation or time trial event that has tested positive for any prohibited substance since its arrival to Ruidoso, or within 45 days of entry for such a race.
  5. Any top-ten qualifier to a stakes event which becomes ineligible to enter the final will be replaced by the next fastest qualifier(s) and a full field of ten finalists will compete.
  6. Any horse entered or nominated to a stakes race at Ruidoso Downs will be subject to random selection by stewards or racing officials for post-race or OOCT and subject to removal from the race card (scratched) in the event a positive test for a prohibited substance is detected.
  7. All horses competing in time trials must be in the Ruidoso Stable area no later than ten (10) days prior to the race, and all qualifiers must remain on the grounds through the running of the finals.
  8. Owners or trainers have the right to refuse testing of any horse and will forfeit the opportunity to race that horse at Ruidoso Downs as a result.
  9. Any licensed trainer of record which has a horse under his/her care which tests positive for a prohibited substance will be subject to removal from the track in addition to any disciplinary action taken by NMRC.
  10. Any licensed horseman (owner, trainer, jockey) which has been subject to a disciplinary action related to prohibited substances by any recognized authority in any jurisdiction may be subject to additional scrutiny at Ruidoso Downs and may be refused entry to the grounds at Ruidoso Downs.

All horsemen, as a condition for participating in racing at Ruidoso Downs, will be required to sign and submit the Acknowledgment of Conditions for Stabling of Horses with their Stall Applicationand adhere to the Ruidoso Gate Entry Policy .