Francisco Calderon, Luis Martinez, Toby Keeton, and La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC earned respective Quarter Horse titles at the recently completed 2024 Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino meet.

© Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—SEPTEMBER 4, 2024—Ruidoso Downs wrapped its 71st racing season in Albuquerque, offering the richest one-day Quarter Horse stakes schedule in history on Monday (SEP 2).

The pinnacle was the world's richest Quarter Horse race, the $3 million All American Futurity(G1). 

Additions stakes totaling more than $4.95 million included the $1,076,365 All American Derby(G1), $626,135 All American Oaks(G1), $250,000 All American Gold Cup(G1), $200,000 All American Juvenile and $100,000 All American Invitational.

More than $2.1 million was wagered on the twelve-race card.

Hezgothelook Z capped off the day by becoming only the second-2-year-old in history to win the famed Ruidoso Triple Crown—Ruidoso Futurity, Rainbow Futurity, and All-American Futurity. Special Effort, 43 years ago in 1981, was the only horse to complete the task before Monday.

The 2024 meeting began in the beautiful mountains of Ruidoso Downs, but unprecedented events, beginning with the deadly South Fork and Salt fires and repeated flooding through the fire-damaged areas, forced officials to move the remainder of the track's racing season to the Downs at Albuquerque in late July.

Champion jockey Francisco Calderon and Luis Martinez tied for the meet Leading Quarter Horse Jockey title with 39 wins each.  Calderon earned $1,613,398 off 176 starts with a 22% win rate.  Martinez rode 223 races to earn $1,214,607 and a 17% win percentage.

Bryan Candanosa was the #3 Quarter Horse jockey with 38 wins from 100 mounts and a 38% win rate. His mounts earned $3,556,454.

Toby Keeton was the Leading Quarter Horse Trainer with 42 wins, 14 seconds, and 13 thirds from 101 starts. His barn earned a record $5,041,322 in purse money.

M. Heath Taylor was the #2 trainer with 26 wins from 115 starts, earning $1,647,434. At #3, Wesley Giles had 25 wins from 176 starts and earnings of $1,448,013.

La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC was the meet's Leading Quarter Horse Owner with 18 wins from 77 starts, a 23% win rate, and earnings of $970,926.

Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC was the #2 Leading Quarter Horse Owner with 16 wins from 34 starts and earnings of $1,348,044.  Bob McClure and Triple One Ranch LLC had nine wins each to tie for third. Triple One Ranch LLC had nine wins from 14 starts and earned $2,482,680. McClure's nine wins with 24 starters earned $965,375.