Following a power outage Saturday night, The Downs at Albuquerque will run the final three AQHA Challenge Championship races on Sunday. First post is 12:30 p.m. (MDT).

© Greg Thompson / StallioneSearch

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 18, 2025—Track officials at The Downs at Albuquerque were forced to cancel the final three races of Saturday’s AQHA Challenge Championship card after a city-wide power outage plunged the track into darkness late in the program.

The affected races — the $265,000 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1), $165,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3), and $140,000-estimated John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) — have been rescheduled for Sunday, October 19, with first post set for 12:30 p.m. (MDT).

Saturday’s card featured 10 stakes events, including five undercard stakes and five Challenge Championship races.

The first two of the five Challenge events — the $115,000 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship (G1) and the $115,000 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) — were completed before the outage.

CLICK HERE for a recap of the Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship (G1)

CLICK HERE for a recap of the Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship. (G1)

For recap coverage of the five undercard stakes run earlier on Saturday's card, CLICK HERE.

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