RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—APRIL 3, 2017—When the Ruidoso Downs’ summer season starts with the first of two days of trials to the Grade 1, $1-million Ruidoso Futurity on May 26, it signals another summer of the finest quarter horses and competitive thoroughbred racing.

The quality of racing at Ruidoso Downs is evident. Seven of the 10 2016 champions announced by the American Quarter Horse Association raced at Ruidoso Downs. There will be seven Grade 1 races for quarter horses offered this summer at the mountain track.

The iconic Grade 1, $3-million (est.) All American Futurity is the season’s ultimate event and is always held on Labor Day, closing day of the summer season. It offers the largest purse in quarter horse racing.

Last year’s All American Futurity winner, Charles Robinson’s Imperial Eagle, is expected to return to Ruidoso Downs after being named the 2016 champion two-year-old and champion two-year-old gelding. He will be pointing to the three Grade 1 derbies — the Ruidoso Derby (June 10), the Rainbow Derby (July 22) and the All American Derby (September 3). There is a $100,000 race with each derby for horses that did not qualify for the derby.

The Grade 1, $1-million (est.) Ruidoso Futurity (June 11) and the Grade 1, $1-million (est.) Rainbow Futurity (July 23) join the All American Futurity as the premier races for two-year-olds.

Two-year-old thoroughbreds also have ample stakes opportunities. They will aim at the $175,000 (est.) Mountain Top New Mexico-bred Thoroughbred Futurity (June 24), the $175,000 (est.) Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (September 3) and the $175,000 (est.) Rio Grande Senor Futurity (September 4).

Older New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds will target the $50,000 Ruidoso Championship Handicap (September 4).

New Mexico-bred racing is celebrated during the Zia Festival on July 29-30. There will be 12 stakes races for state-breds over the two days and an estimated $1-million in purses. The largest purse is awarded in the $400,000 (est.) Zia Futurity (July 30) for quarter horses.

The complete stakes schedule is available by CLICKING HERE.

For complete Ruidoso Downs’ information, go to www.raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow the Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPressBox) on Twitter.

2017 Ruidoso Schedule
MAY

• 26 Friday Ruidoso QH Futurity Trials
• 27 Saturday Ruidoso QH Futurity Trials
• 28 Sunday Ruidoso QH Derby Trials

JUNE

• 2 Friday Mountain Top NM Bred QH Futurity Trials
• 3 Saturday First Lady Handicap - $30,000 purse
• 9 Friday Mountain Top NM Bred TB Futurity Trials
• 10 Saturday Ruidoso QH Derby Final (G1) $1,000,000 est. purse
• 10 Saturday Mr Jess Perry - $100,000 purse
• 11 Sunday Ruidoso QH Futurity Final (G1)$1,000,000 est. purse
• 11 Sunday Ruidoso QH Juvenile - $100,000 purse
• 17 Saturday Ruidoso Adequan Derby Challenge Trials
• 17 Saturday Mountain Top NM Bred QH Futurity Final (RG3) $350,000 est. purse
• 24 Saturday Mountain Top NM Bred TB Futurity Final - $175,000 est. purse

JULY

• 1 Saturday Ruidoso Adequan Derby Challenge Final - $60,000 est. purse
• 1 Saturday Higheasterjet Handicap (G3) - $50,000 purse
• 7 Friday Rainbow QH Futurity Trials
• 8 Saturday Rainbow QH Futurity Trials
• 9 Sunday Rainbow QH Derby Trials
• 14 Friday John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge Trials
• 15 Saturday Zia QH Futurity Trials
• 15 Saturday Zia QH Derby Trials
• 22 Saturday Rainbow QH Derby Final (G1) $1,200,000 est. purse
• 22 Saturday Corona Cartel - $100,000 purse
• 23 Sunday Rainbow QH Futurity Final (G1) $1,000,000 est. purse
• 23 Sunday Rainbow QH Juvenile - $100,000 purse
• 29 Saturday By By JJ - $50,000 purse
• 29 Saturday Bobby Dan Crenshaw Memorial - $20,000 purse 29 Saturday John Deere Ruidoso Challenge Final (G3) $75,000 est. purse
• 30 Sunday Zia QH Derby Final (RG2) $150,000 est. purse
• 30 Sunday Zia 870 Championship - $50,000 purse
• 30 Sunday Zia Handicap (RG2) - $50,000 purse
• 30 Sunday Sierra Starlet - $50,000 purse
• 30 Sunday Zia QH Futurity Final (RG1) $400,000 est. purse
• 30 Sunday Sierra Blanca Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 30 Sunday Road Runner Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 30 Sunday Lincoln Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 30 Sunday Land of Enchantment Handicap - $50,000 purse

AUGUST

• 5 Saturday Mr Jet Moore Handicap (G2) $50,000 purse
• 12 Saturday Rio Grande Señor TB Futurity Trials
• 12 Saturday Rio Grande Señorita TB Futurity Trials
• 12 Saturday Brigand - $20,000 purse
• 18 Friday All American QH Futurity Trials
• 19 Saturday All American QH Futurity Trials
• 20 Sunday All American QH Derby Trials

SEPTEMBER

• 3 Sunday Bill Reed Memorial Stake - $20,000 purse
• 3 Sunday Rio Grande Señorita TB Futurity Final - $175,000 est. purse
• 3 Sunday All American QH Gold Cup (G1) $200,000 purse
• 3 Sunday All American QH Derby Final (G1) $1,500,000 est. purse
• 3 Sunday First Down Dash - $100,000 purse
• 3 Sunday Red White and Blue TB Claiming Stakes - $15,000 purse
• 4 Monday Ruidoso Sprint TB Claiming Stakes
• 4 Monday Ruidoso NM TB Championship Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 4 Monday Rio Grande Señor TB Futurity Final - $175,000 est. purse
• 4 Monday Tribute To The Troops QH Claiming Race - $30,000 purse
• 4 Monday All American QH Futurity Final (G-1) $3,000,000 est. purse
• 4 Monday All American Juvenile - $200,000 est. purse
• 4 Monday Labor Day TB Claiming Stakes - $15,000 purse
• 4 Monday Stars & Stripes QH NM Bred Claiming Stakes - $30,000 purse
• 4 Monday Commander in Chief TB NM Bred Claiming Stakes - $30,000 purse