Ruidoso establishes integrity program for big races

Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico has released details of a new racing integrity program it has developed in conjunction with the American Quarter Horse Association. The new policies largely concern the track’s major futurities and derbies for Quarter Horses, the $8.5 million Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American series of races for 2- and 3-year-olds run each May through September.

Ruidoso in 2015 will require that horses competing in trials for those races be stabled at the track at least 10 days in advance of their race. Horses who qualify will be required to remain on the grounds until they run in the finale. In addition, Ruidoso plans to install surveillance cameras in the stalls of all qualifiers, as well as the barns in which they are housed. Ruidoso also plans to conduct spot checks on such horses.

Horses not in compliance with the new policies will be scratched from the trials or finale the horse is scheduled to compete in, according to a release from Ruidoso.

“These new rules will ensure that horses getting ready to participate in the trials or finals of our major, ultra-rich races will remain under the direct supervision of both the race track and the New Mexico Racing Commission security and surveillance,” said R.D. Hubbard, chairman of Ruidoso. “Studies have found that many of those instances of medicating horses have been done while the horse is stabled off track. This will help overcome that problem.”

Ruidoso also announced additional measures concerning enhanced testing and search procedures in conjunction with the AQHA and the New Mexico Racing Commission.