Ruidoso Downs Cancels Racing Season Due to Flood Damage

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — For the first time in more than 80 years, there will be no organized horse racing at Ruidoso Downs this summer after a state-commissioned study found the historic racetrack cannot be safely protected from future flooding for several years.

Officials with Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Billy the Kid Casino announced Monday that horse racing has been shut down indefinitely after engineers concluded the facility is unstable following repeated flood damage tied to recent wildfires. The 2026 racing season will instead be held at The Downs at Albuquerque, where portions of the past two Ruidoso seasons were already relocated.

The decision follows an Aug. 5, 2025, report by J.E. Fuller Hydrology and Geomorphology of Flagstaff, Arizona, commissioned by the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security. The study found that previous efforts to improve drainage and mitigate flooding were insufficient and that even moderate rainfall could pose life-threatening risks.

“It has now become clear that, even with proposed flood mitigation work done on-site and off-site upstream, Ruidoso Downs Race Track cannot be adequately protected from future flooding,” the track said in a news release.

According to the report, rainfall of about two inches per hour over fire-scarred terrain upstream would overwhelm existing or expanded drainage systems and create a high risk of dangerous flooding at the track.

Ruidoso Downs sustained heavy flood damage in 2024 and 2025 following the South Fork and Salt fires, which burned roughly 20,000 acres in the area and were linked to at least three deaths in June 2024. Racing was moved to Albuquerque during both seasons because of similar safety concerns.

Track officials said the facility is expected to remain unfit for racing for “several years,” though no timeline was provided for a possible return. It was unclear why the announcement came months after the report was completed, but village and track officials said they met with state regulators Jan. 15 in Santa Fe, when the final decision was reached.

“It is, without question, the most challenging and emotional choice we have ever made as an organization,” the track said. “We will continue to communicate openly as we assess our next steps.”

The closure marks a significant break in tradition at the track, originally known as Hollywood Park, which began hosting parimutuel racing in 1947. Ruidoso Downs has been home to the All American Futurity — the world’s richest quarter horse race — since 1959.

Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said the racetrack is central to the community’s economy and identity, generating hundreds of jobs and drawing visitors nationwide. He said the Billy the Kid Casino will remain open, along with the Heritage Room restaurant and the 2026 New Mexico Bred and Super Select livestock sales at the Ruidoso Downs Sales Pavilion.

“This news is heartbreaking for our entire community,” Crawford said in a statement. “Ruidoso Downs Race Track is far more than a venue; it is woven into the very fabric of our region’s identity and economy.”

Village officials held a special meeting of the Ruidoso Lodgers Tax Committee on Tuesday to discuss alternative tourism strategies, including expanding hiking trails, attracting national competitions and hosting music festivals. Officials estimate the racetrack contributes up to $200 million annually in overall economic impact through tourism, taxes and local business revenue.