The 2020 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodward Reserve will run this year on the Saturday prior to Labor Day.

© Martin Canales / StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MARCH 31, 2020—The Kentucky Derby has traditionally run on the first Saturday in May since 1875. The recent rescheduling of the 2020 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodward Reserve, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, may result in a negative deficit for Quarter Horse wagering during All American weekend at Ruidoso Downs. However, It could also provide a connection to an undeveloped audience.

With the exposure of racing as a whole that the Kentucky Derby brings, it would be assumed that the Derby running as a prelude to the All American weekend will supply Quarter Horse Racing with a link to an untapped fan base. The draw of spectatorship provides a large audience, focusing on the derby, and in-turn potentially causing a serious deficiency in money to be bet on Quarter Horse races during All American week.

“The Kentucky Derby is going to run during our soft opening for All American week, and we don’t need any help on Labor Day weekend,” said Jeff True General Manager of Ruidoso Downs. “We want viewers to spend their betting money on All American races on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of that weekend, not the Kentucky Derby.”

Ruidoso Downs brings in more grandstand spectators than Sunland Park and Albuquerque Downs combined. The track handle, audience, horseman, and casino are what is supplying and dispensing the revenue available for overnight purses.

With the Kentucky Derby riding the card during All American week and in-turn causing deficits in the dividends manufactured at the wagering window, safety measures will be put in place. This includes the new Pintafecta, a professional NHC Handicapping Tournament, and $1000-added to the trifecta pool. This will aid in protecting overnight purse money and pay-ins for money added.

“We are always looking to push the Quarter Horse as a product and not just our facility,” added True. “Ruidoso Downs will offer a Pintafecta, designed for Quarter Horse trial races, giving the spectators an opportunity to place the first-five horses in the order they will cross the wire.”

Short distance Quarter Horse sprinters are not considered standard when the general population envisions a ‘day at the races’, society often expects “two-turns” in horse racing. The addition of the Pintafecta, combined with the NHC Handicap Tournament, & money added to the trifecta pool, assist in bringing the attention and betting money back to the Quarters running during All American week.

As COVID-19 continues spreading across the nation tracks are closing, horse racing is postponed, cancelled, or preventative measures to safeguard health are being implemented. The cancellation and postponement of horse racing leaves hard-working horseman questioning not only the end result, but the impact on the horse racing industry once racing schedules resume.

“A resolution will occur when enough days have come off the calendar,” said president of AQHA Butch Wise. “Treatment combined with adherence to government issued precautions, will allow racing to gradually resume and some resemblance of normalcy to be restored in this country and in our industry.”

Focusing our energy on the crisis at hand during this time, which affects the health of the global population and economy while engaging in government issued limitations, will gradually allow for horse racing to resume.

We will find assurance in a silver lining and provide Quarter Horse racing with hope.