ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After wildfires and flooding tore through the Ruidoso area, Ruidoso Downs Race Track took a major hit, forcing them to move the rest of the season to Albuquerque Downs.
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Crews at Albuquerque Downs had less than a week to get ready for races to kick off Friday and it’s definitely been all hands on deck to make it happen. “I got a call basically Sunday morning saying, ‘Uh we need your help,”‘ said Expo New Mexico General Manager Dan Mourning.
From wildfires to flash flooding, Ruidoso can’t catch a break. Video from over the weekend showed water rushing over the Ruidoso Downs Race Track as guests watched from the stands. Now that meet and the rest of the 2024 season will be held in Albuquerque.
“This is a huge race meet and they’re right in the middle of it, so to move over 1,900 horses from Ruidoso up to Albuquerque is a feat in itself,” said Mourning.
Mourning said it’s been a team effort to figure it all out. “In 48 hours, we’ve transformed what we’re doing and keep this in mind we still have shows going on and that little festival in September coming up,” said Mourning.
Mourning said the challenge is more than worth it. “This is an amazing race. I don’t think people understand what a world-class event this is, the America Futurity that’s gonna happen on Labor Day,” said Mourning.
While the move is necessary, it’s also a tough loss for Ruidoso. “It’s an industry cluster here for this whole county,” said Village of Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford. “There’s a lot of work we’re having to do to hang on to our economy, trying to beef it up in other areas.”
All of the profits from the race track and horse sales will go back to Ruidoso Downs, the event will still be a boost for Albuquerque too.
“Hotels, restaurants, retail you know just like any other major event like the gathering of nations, the fair, or Balloon Fiesta, that’s what you’ll have here so it’s a great economic thing here,” said Mourning.
Mourning says they are expecting 15,000 people Labor Day weekend alone. “We’re talking about a 3-million dollar purse, so I mean, that’s going to bring in the heavy hitters,” said Mourning.
Expo New Mexico says the big crowds will be a good test for the improvements they’ve made at Gate 8 off Louisiana ahead of the state fair. Races begin this Friday and end with the All-American Futurity on September 2.
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