Ruidoso Downs General Manager Rick Baugh gives a progress report in the track's infield today.

© Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–MARCH 26, 2025–Ruidoso Downs released a video update showing around-the-clock work on the track's infield and racing surface to prepare for the May 23 opening Day. 

"We're going to make it. We're right now at the east end of the racetrack, and what you see behind us is about a 50 % completion of the turn," Ruidoso Downs General Manager Rick Baugh told Tim Keithly from the track's infield today. "So we're on schedule, they should have this done by Friday, giving us the racetrack to start reapplying the cushion. That's great news. The track will be ready."

According to Baugh, the Rio Ruidoso, which flows through the track property, has dramatic changes to its embankments on both sides. He says a flow has been created of a multiplier by at least 10, if not more, and is going to make a huge, drastic difference. If it goes over its banks, the racetrack has installed a safety measure: a retention pond.

"They built an eight-acre retention basin in the infield," Baugh says. "They will remove over 150 thousand yards of material from that retention basin.

"The retention basin is actually for the residents downstream and a sewer treatment plant at the Highway 70 Bridge," he added.

He said hoses are expected to be on the racetrack grounds the third week of April.  

"I did the schedule yesterday. I'm feeling positive," he said. "You know our fate has been in someone else's hands, which I don't deal well with, but we're there."

According to Baugh, a record number of horses have been nominated for the 2026 Triple Crown. The 2026 nominations are 1,521, compared to around 1,420 last year.

"That shows the people's faith in what we're doing and where this project is going," he said.

"So we've already surpassed our Triple Crown nominations, and that's historic. It's an all-time high, never before achieved," Baugh said..

Track officials said they will contact all season ticket holders in the coming days as they prepare for horse racing in 2025.

CLICK HERE to watch the entire interview.