Ruidoso futurities, derbies, including the All American, in process of being moved to Lone Star in 2027
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The $3 million All American Futurity, Quarter Horse racing’s most famous race, and several major stakes historically run at Ruidoso Downs are being moved from New Mexico to Lone Star Park beginning in 2027, according to a statement issued by Ruidoso Downs on Thursday.
Full details were not disclosed in the statement by Ruidoso Downs owners Johnny and Jana Trotter and Global Gaming Solutions, the parent company of Lone Star Park. The parties have agreed on a framework for the three races consisting of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, and the prestigious All American Quarter Horse sale to be held at Lone Star Park, the statement indicated.
The futurities series includes the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at 350 yards run in early June, and the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at 400 yards run in mid-July. The All American Futurity at 440 yards has been a fixture on Labor Day since its inception in 1959.
The series for 3-year-olds consists of the Ruidoso Derby at 400 yards and the Rainbow and All American derbies at 440 yards. There are two major stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 440 yards – the Rainbow Oaks and All American Oaks – that will be relocated.
Beginning in 2024, the last several weeks of the Ruidoso Downs meeting, including the All American Futurity and Derby, were held in Albuquerque after a series of floods devastated the Ruidoso Downs property. The floods were caused by a massive runoff of rainwater, mud and debris from mountains above the track that sustained massive scars from a wildfire in June 2024.
Ruidoso Downs resumed racing in May 2025 but the second half of the meeting was canceled because of a flood more severe than what the track sustained in 2024. The 2025 Rainbow Futurity and Derby were canceled.
Ruidoso Downs announced in January that there would be no racing at the track this year, with the entirety of the season run in Albuquerque. The All American Derby and Oaks are scheduled for Sunday, with the All American Futurity on Monday.
The announcement did not specify Quarter Horse race dates at Lone Star Park in 2027. The track runs a Thoroughbred meeting from mid-April to mid-July followed by a Quarter Horse meeting from early September to late November.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ruidoso Downs general manager Rick Baugh said the decision was made after evaluating the short-term possibility of resuming racing at Ruidoso Downs.
“Following the fires and floods of recent years, we have taken a hard look at what comes next and evaluated every realistic path forward,” Baugh said. “Our responsibility has always been to protect not just a place but a legacy.
“We expect the agreement to be finalized within the next few weeks. This was not an easy decision, but we believe it is the right one.
“Lone Star Park has the leadership, the facilities, and the visibility to ensure these institutions continue to grow, thrive, and reach new racing fans for generations to come. The address will change, but what the horsemen in this industry have built will not change.”
By moving the major stakes from Ruidoso Downs to Lone Star Park, the Grand Prairie, Texas, track will take a more dominant role in Quarter Horse racing.
“We are excited about the opportunity to continue these storied traditions at Lone Star Park and introduce them to racing fans across North Texas and beyond,” Skip Seeley, the president of Global Gaming Solutions, said in a statement.
Lone Star Park is home to the Texas Classic Futurity, which is run in November. The race had a purse of $910,508 in 2025.
The decision to shift the historic Ruidoso races out of New Mexico is a blow to racing in that state and to the Ruidoso economy. Located in mountains in the southern part of the state, Ruidoso has been a summertime destination in the region for people seeking to escape the heat at lower elevations.
This year, in addition to no racing at Ruidoso Downs, the track’s small casino and simulcast facility were closed because of another flood that struck track property and damaged roads. The All American yearling sale will be held on track property this Friday and Saturday in an area unaffected by floods.
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