RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 1, 2017—Get ready for the opening of the Ruidoso Downs summer season on May 26 with full simulcast wagering on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and Friday’s Kentucky Oaks at Ruidoso Downs.

The Kentucky Derby is for three-year-old thoroughbreds while the Kentucky Oaks is for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies.

The All American Turf Club will be open for free admission at 12 p.m. on Saturday. A special buffet will be offered in the Turf Club.

There will be fun promotions in connection with the Kentucky Derby.

Billy’s Derby Dash For Cash drawing will be held after the Kentucky Derby, which has a 4:20 p.m. (MDT) post time. Guests may visit the promotions desk outside Billy The Kid Casino to get a drawing ticket. They may then place it in a box outside the casino that corresponds with the horse they think will be the derby winner. The drawing should be held about 5 p.m. (MDT).

A Derby Hat Contest will be held at 3 p.m. MDT on Saturday in Billy’s Sports Bar & Grill. The winner receives $250, runner-up gets $150 and the third-place finisher receives $100.

Breakfast will be held in Billy’s Sports Bar and Grill from 8-10 a.m. MDT on Saturday.

There will be unique wagering opportunities. The Special Oaks-Derby Double will be provided and guests may wager on the entire Churchill Downs’ Saturday card on Friday.

First post time at Churchill Downs will be 8:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and tellers will be available at 8:00 a.m. (MDT).

Then, on May 8-10, non-wagering training races will be held at Ruidoso Downs and they bring out some of the finest prospects for the Grade 1 All American Triple Crown races — the $1-million (est.) Ruidoso Futurity, the $1-million (est.) Rainbow Futurity and the $3-million (est.) All American Futurity. Ruidoso Futurity trials are held the first two days of the season.

the Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPressBox) on Twitter.

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.