28-02-2025
Ruidoso Downs Race Track working around the clock to repair damage from summer flooding
RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. (KRQE) – Rebuilding after devastating burn scar flooding. The Ruidoso Downs racetrack is trying to bring horse racing back to its renowned southeast New Mexico facility by spring. 'Well, the clock's ticking,' said Tim Keithley, director of marketing for Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino.
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It's a different kind of race at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino after destructive burn scar flooding from the South Fork Wildfire. This latest race is tied to big machinery working fast to repair and replace culverts on the end field to hopefully bring back horse racing by May. 'We have already hauled 100,000 cubic yards of dirt and debris out of the racetrack. So that's a lot of work being done, and it's probably a little bit less than halfway to go,' said Keithley.
The Ruidoso Downs said the fires and floods from last year caused them to close down for the first time and move the race meets from the Ruidoso Downs to Albuquerque. Now, they're saying they're working around the clock to make sure that doesn't happen again. 'Without quarter horse racing, the businesses, even last summer, reported a 50 to 70 percent decline in business revenue, so we need to race so that the community can have tourism and bring those Texans over to spend some money with us,' said Keithley.
Still worried about potential flooding this year, they said for now it will switch to using just one side of the track for quarter horse racing. They expect the entire track to be fully repaired by Memorial Day. 'It'll be fixed and ready to go because you have to, even though we're not running thoroughbreds, you have to be ready to train all horses, including quarter horses,' said Keithley
Because the Rio Ruidoso runs through the middle of the track, The Downs said it's working with both state and federal officials to coordinate the project. They don't have a total cost estimate on the project so far.
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