Ruidoso Downs Racetrack Washed Out Again by Deadly Flood

• Flash floods kill three and shut down Ruidoso Downs
• Horse racing season canceled after severe track damage
• Second major flood since 2024 devastates local community

 New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs racetrack was devastated by severe flash floods on Tuesday night after torrential rain caused the Rio Ruidoso river to swell to over 20 feet in under an hour.

Authorities said three people, including two children, died in the village of Ruidoso after being swept away by the raging waters. Rescue efforts continued into Wednesday as authorities assessed the damage.

A track official confirmed that one horse was killed in the torrent and others remained unaccounted for. Ten have been treated for minor wounds. Social media footage showed the track submerged in several feet of water as people and horses tried to escape the deluge.

Racing Canceled

Ruidoso Downs was in the middle of a Quarter Horse race meet and was scheduled to host racing on Saturday. Izzy Trejo, executive director of the New Mexico Racing Commission, confirmed that the remainder of the season would be canceled.

“There will be no more racing there for 2025,” Trejo said, adding that it’s unclear as to whether any races would be rescheduled.

People need to catch their breath here,” he added. “Thoughts are flowing but I can’t say any of them have traction at this point. I can say, the Commission is going to be there to support the horse racing industry and Ruidoso in the best way we possibly can.”

The area is heavily prone to flash flooding due to the surrounding mountainous terrain, but this has worsened since the devastating wildfires of last summer. The fires destroyed vegetation that normally helps absorb rainfall and hold soil in place, increasing the volume and speed of floodwaters.

‘We Lost the Track Again’

It’s the second time since the summer of 2024 that floods have forced the racetrack to close. Last July’s deluge was less severe than this one but still caused almost $30 million worth of damage. Ruidoso Downs completed repairs only in April.

We lost the track again, it washed out our racetrack,” Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford told KOAT.com. “We were getting ready for the second leg of the Triple Crown of Quarter Horse, which is very important to this community.”

Last year’s prestigious $3 million All American Futurity had to be relocated to Albuquerque, the first time in the event’s history, dating back to 1959, that it wasn’t held at Ruidoso Downs.