RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JANUARY 7, 2019—An earlier opening day on Friday, May 10 and new stakes races added to the iconic stakes schedule welcome fans this summer at Ruidoso Downs.

The new stakes races are the $100,000 (est.) Maiden Stakes for three through five-year-old quarter horses and the $45,000 (est.) Rita Danley Distaff for three-year-old and older New Mexico bred quarter horse fillies and mares. Returning to the Ruidoso Downs’ stakes lineup is the AQHA Regional Juvenile Challenge for two-year-old quarter horses.

The Maiden Stakes trials will be contested on opening day (May 10) with the 10-fastest qualifiers racing in the May 27 finals.

The Rita Danley Distaff will be run on June 30.

The AQHA Juvenile Challenge trials run on May 17 with the finals on June 2.

The new stakes races join the legendary Grade 1 triple crown races at Ruidoso Downs. Those signature events are the $3,000,000 (est.) All American Futurity and $1,000,000 (est.) All American Derby (September 1-2), $1,000,000 (est.) Rainbow Futurity and $750,000 (est.) Rainbow Derby (July 20-21) along with the $1,000,000 (est.) Ruidoso Futurity and the $750,000 (est.) Ruidoso Derby (June 8-9).

"Our early, Mothers’ Day weekend opening has enabled us to add some key stakes races that we think will increase participation this summer," Ruidoso Downs’ president and general manager Jeff True said. "Our signature quarter horse races and several of our thoroughbred races have shown significant increases in numbers, so we are looking forward to a great racing year."

Ruidoso Downs offers a $2-million Triple Crown Futurity Bonus to the owners of a horse which sweeps all three futurities. Three-year-old quarter horses race for the $1-million Triple Crown Derby Bonus for any horse that wins the three Grade 1 derbies.

New Mexico-bred racing will be celebrated during the Zia Festival on July 27-28. The largest purse is offered in the $400,000 (est.) Zia Futurity. Zia weekend provides 11 stakes races carded over the two days.

MAY

• 10 Friday Ruidoso Maiden Stakes Trials
• 17 Friday John Deere Juvenile Trials
• 24 Friday Ruidoso QH Futurity Trials
• 25 Saturday Ruidoso QH Futurity Trials
• 26 Sunday Ruidoso QH Derby Trials
• 27 Monday Ruidoso Maiden Stakes Final - $100,000 purse (est.)
• 31 Friday Mountain Top NM Bred QH Futurity Trials

JUNE

• 1 Saturday Dash For Speed F & M Stakes - $25,000 purse
• 2 Sunday John Deere Juvenile Final (G3) - $25,000 purse
• 2 Sunday First Lady Handicap - $30,000 purse
• 7 Friday Mountain Top NM Bred TB Futurity Trials
• 8 Saturday Ruidoso QH Derby Final (G1) $750,000 est. purse
• 8 Saturday Mr Jess Perry - $100,000 purse
• 9 Sunday Ruidoso QH Futurity Final (G1) $1,000,000 est. purse
• 9 Sunday Ruidoso (AQHA) QH Juvenile - $100,000 purse
• 14 Friday Ruidoso Adequan Derby Challenge Trials
• 15 Saturday Mountain Top NM Bred QH Futurity Final (RG2) $350,000 est. purse
• 16 Sunday Ruidoso Sprint Handicap $30,000 Purse
• 22 Saturday Mountain Top NM Bred TB Futurity Final - $175,000 est. purse
• 29 Saturday Ruidoso Adequan Derby Challenge Final - $60,000 est. purse
• 29 Saturday Higheasterjet Handicap (G2) - $50,000 purse
• 30 Sunday Rita Danley Distaff - $45,000 est. purse

JULY

• 5 Friday Rainbow QH Futurity Trials
• 6 Saturday Rainbow QH Futurity Trials
• 7 Sunday Rainbow QH Derby Trials
• 12 Friday Zia QH Futurity Trials
• 13 Saturday Zia QH Derby Trials
• 20 Saturday Rainbow QH Derby Final (G1) $750,000 est. purse
• 20 Saturday Corona Cartel - $100,000 purse
• 21 Sunday Rainbow QH Futurity Final (G1) $1,000,000 est. purse
• 21 Sunday Rainbow QH Juvenile - $100,000 purse
• 26 Friday Ruidoso Downs Distaff Challenge Trials
• 27 Saturday By By JJ - $50,000 purse
• 27 Saturday Bobby Dan Crenshaw Memorial - $20,000 purse
• 27 Saturday Zia Handicap (RG2) - $50,000 purse
• 27 Saturday Sierra Starlet - $50,000 purse
• 27 Saturday Sierra Blanca Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 28 Sunday Zia 870 Championship - $50,000 purse
• 28 Sunday Road Runner Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 28 Sunday Zia QH Derby Final (RG2) $150,000 est. purse
• 28 Sunday Lincoln Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 28 Sunday Land of Enchantment Handicap - $50,000 purse
• 28 Sunday Zia QH Futurity Final (RG1) $400,000 est. purse

AUGUST

• 3 Saturday Mr Jet Moore Handicap (G2) $50,000 purse
• 10 Saturday Rio Grande Señor TB Futurity Trials
• 10 Saturday Rio Grande Señorita TB Futurity Trials
• 10 Saturday Ruidoso Downs Distaff Challenge
• 11 Sunday Brigand Handicap - $20,000 purse
• 16 Friday All American QH Futurity Trials
• 17 Saturday All American QH Futurity Trials
• 18 Sunday All American QH Derby Trials
• 31 Saturday John Andreini Memorial Stakes - $25,000 purse
• 31 Saturday Red White and Blue TB Claiming Stakes - $15,000 purse
• 31 Saturday Bill Reed Memorial Stake - $20,000 purse

SEPTEMBER

• 1 Sunday All American QH Gold Cup (G1) $200,000 purse
• 1 Sunday All American QH Derby Final (G1) $1,000,000 est. purse
• 1 Sunday First Down Dash - $100,000 purse
• 1 Sunday Rio Grande Señorita TB Futurity Final - $175,000 est. purse
• 1 Sunday Billy The Kid Handicap - $30,000 purse
• 2 Monday Rio Grande Señor TB Futurity Final - $175,000 est. purse
• 2 Monday Tribute To The Troops QH Claiming Race - $30,000 purse
• 2 Monday Labor Day TB Claiming Stakes - $15,000 purse
• 2 Monday Ruidoso NM Bred Claiming Stakes - $15,000 purse
• 2 Monday Governors Handicap - $30,000 purse
• 2 Monday All American Juvenile - $200,000 purse
• 2 Monday All American QH Futurity Final (G1) $3,000,000 est. purse

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