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Ruidoso Downs RacetrackLive Ruidoso Downs Racetrack Odds from Bodog Racebook
Ruidoso Downs Horse RacingThe first race at Ruidoso Downs took place in 1947 and horse racing has been a staple in New Mexico ever since. At that time the track was little more than a plowed road with volunteers acting as judges. A lot has changed since then. Ruidoso Downs is now a racing facility that features both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing and boasts the All American Futurity, the biggest race around when it comes to quarter horse racing. The All American Futurity first went in 1959 and had a purse of almost $130,000, but now the race now features a $2-million total purse, the richest of its kind. The main track is now a finely-groomed dirt surface of seven furlongs, while the quarter horse track checks in at 550 yards. The distance from the final turn to the finish is 660 feet. New Mexico's favorite track also features simulcast betting and the 20,000-square foot Billy the Kid Casino, which opened in 1999 after casinos were legalized in race tracks. The casino houses more than 300 one cent-$5 slot machines, which paid out more than $115 million in 2004, just five years after its doors opened. The casino is open 10 a.m.-midnight on Sundays and 10 a.m.-1 a.m. during the rest of the week. Ruidoso Downs does dining right, with Billy's Sports Bar and Grill right across from the casino, and the All American Turf Club, with special event catering fit to satisfy any group. Ruidoso Downs Race Track is also a popular concert location in New Mexico so stay tuned for 2010 show listings. Parking and general admission are free every day at Ruidoso Downs, though you can upgrade to reserved seats in the grandstand, or Turf Club seats in the second level for an additional charge. 
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