Ruidoso Futurity attracts record 311 entrants

There will be no shortage of 2-year-old Quarter Horses chasing the enhanced purse of the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico as trials for the track’s first major race for the division drew a record 311 entrants.

Ruidoso, which opens its 64-date meet for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds on Friday, will start its season with two 16-race cards of trials for the Grade 1, $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity.

Ruidoso has bolstered the purse of its signature race, the All American Futurity, by $400,000. The 440-yard classic on Sept. 7 is the final leg of the track’s rich series for 2-year-olds: the Ruidoso on June 7 and the Grade 1, $1 million Rainbow Futurity on July 19. The horse who can sweep the three races will earn a $4 million bonus from Ruidoso.

The number of entrants for the Friday and Saturday trials for the Ruidoso Futurity is up significantly from last year, when 225 horses ran in 24 trials. That could be a reflection of the All American purse increase, announced in January. Trials for the race limited to 10 starters will be run Aug. 21-22. The finale will offer the largest purse for any race for 2-year-olds, including Thoroughbred races, according to Ruidoso. The winner earns 50 percent of the purse.

Nominations for the race were up 13 percent, according to Ruidoso, while there was also a double-digit increase in nominations to the Ruidoso Futurity and Rainbow Futurity.

Ruidoso has changed some of its policies tied to major races. The track now requires horses pointing for futurity and derby trials to be stabled on the grounds 48 hours in advance of entries for those races. Ruidoso also requires qualifiers to remain on the grounds through the finale, and horses will be subjected to random testing. There also will be off-site testing throughout the year, and to ensure cooperation, the New Mexico Racing Commission will work with the New Mexico State Police, Ruidoso said.

The major offerings during the meet also include a series for 3-year-old Quarter Horses. Trials for the Grade 1, $800,000 Ruidoso Derby are Sunday and drew champion Kiss My Hocks. The finale is June 6. The series continues with the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Derby on July 18 and the $2.3 million All American Derby on Sept. 6.