RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 13, 2020—Ruidoso Downs Race Track has signed a multi-year broadcast deal with The Cowboy Channel. The first event to be covered live as part of this new programming deal will be the Rainbow Futurity on Sunday, July 19th. The Rainbow Futurity, a Grade I stakes race with a purse of $1 Million, is the second leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown.

The live broadcast show is scheduled to air from 4:00 – 5:30 PM MDT and will be hosted by Tom Dawson from Ruidoso Downs, and Jeff Medders who will be in-studio in Fort Worth. The Rainbow Juvenile Stakes is scheduled at 4:10 PM MDT and the Rainbow Futurity at 5:10 PM MDT. The pair will also re-cap the previous day’s Rainbow Invitational, Rainbow Oaks, and Rainbow Derby.

“The Cowboy Channel is a new and exciting development for the Ruidoso Downs digital strategy which focuses on delivering live racing and lifestyle content,” said Jeff True, President and General Manager of Ruidoso Downs. “We believe that our consumers are very similar to those of the The Cowboy Channel and this deal will accrue to our mutual long-term benefit. We now have a solid TV partner to drive not only wagering, but visits to our New Mexico mountain track.”

Headquartered in the Fort Worth Stockyards, The Cowboy Channel is a 24-hour television network dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle. The Cowboy Channel features content focused on rodeo, bull riding, roping, reining, barrel racing, and other western sports genres, along with western fashion, music, and movies. Their lineup also features a wide variety of “live” coverage from major western events showcasing the world’s toughest and most talented cowboys and cowgirls. The network is distributed into 42 million homes via cable/satellite systems.

“The Cowboy Channel is excited to be the new home of the American Quarter Horse Racing Triple Crown,” said President and General Manager, Jeff Medders. “There is so much history with Ruidoso Downs. It’s home to the world’s first million dollar horse race. It all starts with the Rainbow Futurity and the inaugural running of the Rainbow Oaks this Sunday. Ruidoso Downs and The Cowboy Channel are going to be a great fit.”

Rainbow Weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track kicks off Friday and continues Saturday and Sunday with a 1:00 PM MDT post time each day.

At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity due to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico. For more information on how to watch online, place your bet with your favorite online wagering provider, or conduct drive-thru wagering locally, please visit RaceRuidoso.com.