sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Ruidoso Downs Racetrack will not host horse racing this summer after a government-contracted report found the track is not a sustainable public venue "now or for many years to come鈥� due to flood concerns, the business .

A report from JE Fuller, a civil engineering firm based in Arizona and New Mexico, revealed that moderate rainfall could overwhelm existing and planned drainage improvements, creating dangerous conditions at the popular quarter horse track.

The flooding is a result of wildfires degrading forests in the surrounding mountains, leaving less natural defense against rainfall that accumulates quickly and rushes into streambeds.

Upon learning of the findings from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management-commissioned report and following up with government agencies last week, track leadership made the 鈥渃hallenging and emotional鈥� decision to move its 49-day race schedule, usually starting in late spring, to the Downs at sa国际传媒官网网页入口, citing the safety of track patrons, workers and horses.

鈥淚t has now become clear that, even with proposed flood mitigation work done on-site and off-site upstream, Ruidoso Downs Race Track cannot be adequately protected from future flooding,鈥� the release stated. 鈥� 鈥� Continued operations at the current site of Ruidoso Downs Racetrack is not feasible.鈥�

The Downs at sa国际传媒官网网页入口 previously hosted Ruidoso Downs鈥� signature Labor Day race, the All-American Futurity, in 2024 and 2025. Known as the richest quarter horse race in the world, the $3 million futurity was relocated both years after flash floods engulfed the track and destroyed key race equipment following the South Fork and Salt Fires in 2024.

The track won't shut down completely. The 2026 New Mexico Bred Sale and the 2026 Super Select Sale will still be held at the Ruidoso Downs sales pavilion. The track鈥檚 casino will also remain open.

Despite challenges to reopening horse racing, Ruidoso Downs staff and local officials are eyeing a return next summer.

鈥淭he Village of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs Race Track management, Lincoln County, state officials and community stakeholders are unified in our commitment to bringing championship quarter horse racing back to Ruidoso for the 2027 season,鈥� Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford . 鈥淲e are already coordinating recovery efforts, identifying funding sources, and developing an aggressive timeline to ensure that every necessary repair is completed well ahead of Memorial Day 2027.鈥�

A message to Crawford鈥檚 office from the Journal was not returned. Ruidoso Downs general manager Rick Baugh also did not respond to the Journal鈥檚 request for comment.

The JE Fuller report, dated Aug. 5, 2025, . The basins were 鈥渘ot expected to provide meaningful and lasting鈥� flood protection, while the other proposed additions would not eliminate flood risk to the track or surrounding areas.

The planned improvements, the report stated, would likely have limited long-term value due to 鈥渧ery high鈥� construction costs and anticipated maintenance needs.

鈥�(The basins鈥�) effectiveness depends on a highly specific combination of rainfall intensity, duration and post-fire ground conditions,鈥� the report said. 鈥淓ven if those conditions are met, the basins do not provide meaningful mitigation during larger storm events, as their storage capacity is quickly exceeded.鈥�

When asked about a potential return for horse racing at Ruidoso Downs next summer, New Mexico Racing Commission Executive Director Ismael 鈥淚zzy鈥� Trejo said 鈥渢he crystal ball is never clear鈥� when trying to predict weather conditions 鈥� particularly New Mexico鈥檚 monsoon season.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good to have the goals,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd we hope that they can be maintained. But obviously, we鈥檙e not short of the reality of this happening every year from here on out.鈥�

Trejo added he was pleased sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Downs is able to host Ruidoso Downs鈥� race schedule in light of the southern track鈥檚 鈥渟omewhat devastating" decision to not host this summer.

鈥淣ot racing in Ruidoso and not having any racetrack step in to run some of these races, it would have been a complete devastation for the horse racing industry here,鈥� he said. 鈥淥n the one hand, we鈥檙e disappointed that we couldn鈥檛 get it up and going in Ruidoso, but we understand that鈥檚 reality.

鈥� 鈥� On the flip side, the commission鈥檚 very focused on keeping this industry going. Not running in New Mexico at all for the duration of the summer would have been even more devastating than just not running at Ruidoso, so we鈥檙e glad that the Downs at sa国际传媒官网网页入口 has the ability to handle and support the industry in the way that they鈥檙e going to this summer.鈥�

Don Cooks, sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Downs鈥� president of racing, did not respond to a request for comment from the Journal.

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .