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New Mexico racing industry reopens with live racing at Ruidoso Downs

Spectators were barred from attending the live racing.

A 2-year-old quarter horse named Tuckk just started its racing career on May 22, but the colt already has a place in New Mexico horse racing history.

The sorrel colt won Race No. 1 with jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. aboard at Ruidoso Downs as live racing returned for the New Mexico horse racing industry, which suddenly went dark in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The horse's win in the first trail for the upcoming 2020 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Futurity was celebrated in the winner's circle without the usual pomp and circumstance.

"Things are different today, we are opening without a crowd. And if you've ever been to Ruidoso Downs you'll  know that the crowd is a big part of what we do here," said Jeff True, president and general manager of the Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino.

"We're so happy to be here though. It's a big part of the New Mexico economy and it's certainly a big part of Lincoln County."

Tuckk broke his maiden in the first trial and will be remembered as the first winner in the return of New Mexico racing during the coronavirus age.

All of the 14 trial races of the Downs' opening day, as New Mexico's mandated COVID-19 health safety orders, were run without fans in the the grandstands.

About 20 people lingered Friday in grandstands that would normally draw 20,000 spectators over the Memorial Day weekend.

The track would typically employ 300 with live racing for fans, but was down to 150 employees. One hundred ten people are employed year-round.

A few yards away from the winner's circle a Downs security guard checked racing licenses and voiced reminders to essential personnel — jockeys, trainers and track staff —  to keep face coverings in place. 

Essential personnel were in attendance since the track was open for training races May 6-7, but fans were barred from attending the season's opening this weekend, which features the nation's richest quarter horse race.

Ruidoso Downs is home to the Quarter Horse Triple Crown for both 2-year-old and 3-year-old quarter horse races. The meet ends with the 62nd running of the All American Futurity on Labor Day.

True said the Downs adjusted its tactics to reach fans on opening day — the focus shifted to digital and televised access.

The trail race were contested with the rest of New Mexico's racing industry — a $500 million industry and the state's third largest economic driver — monitoring the Down's success this weekend.

True said this year, a successful racing season would be defined less by year over year financial comparisons, than the health and safety of the horsemen and the Downs' ability to provide them race opportunities.

The field of quarter horses dash past empty stands Friday at Ruidoso Downs. The 2020 racing season is underway at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in Ruidoso, N.M. after live racing was halted in mid-March because of COVID-19. The track is starting the season without fans in the stands due to the coronavirus.

True said that the Downs hoped to see public attendance of live racing sometime in early June.

That dream, however, rests on the decision of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham who extended stay-at-home orders twice and indicated last week that mandates limiting public gatherings would be in effective until the administration was convinced further spread of the coronavirus was decreasing.

A question of success

Jockey Agent Kathy Murphy said the success of Ruidoso Downs and its opening weekend is essential to the state's horse racing industry.

“The success of Ruidoso this summer is very important because Ruidoso Downs has stepped up taken a chance to open and we, as a horse racing community, (have) to step up and do the right things every day,” Murphy said.

Murphy's job at the race track is to work with trainers to find steady mounts for her jockeys.

“We are appreciative of what Ruidoso Downs is doing," she said. "We are excited about the opening weekend. It’s been hard on all of us involved in the sport. But we remain hopeful."

New Mexico horse owners and trainers were hit hard financially when Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino suddenly went dark in mid-March. Live racing is a critical driver in New Mexico's horse racing industry.

Owners and trainers rely on the purses to earn money to stay in the racing game. The betting revenue contributes to the amount of the purses offering each day of live racing.

Michael J. Joiner, the trainer of 2-year-old Tuckk, said opening day was surreal.

The 2020 racing season is underway at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in Ruidoso, N.M. The track is starting the season without fans in the stands due to coronavirus.

"It is very strange not to see spectators or hear the cheering from the crowds today," Joiner said, "But we have to make sure we are abiding by the rules to make sure we all stay safe."

Jockey Kelsi Purcell rode in the first two races at the Downs.

“It’s been great being back here riding at Ruidoso,” Purcell said. “There was a lot of uncertainty about when racing would start in New Mexico.

"But we’re excited to begin the quest to see who are the best quarter horses in the world. These races mean so much to the community.”

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The El Paso-area track ended live racing on March 15, a move that led to the cancellation of the rest of the meet, including the $700,000 Sunland Derby, a Kentucky Derby qualification race.

Soon after that, SunRay Park in Farmington had its scheduled meet in April and May called off. 

Thoroughbred trainer Joel Marr said the closures took a toll on the industry overall.

“We’ve lost some people who have gotten out of the business. We’ve lost some people who moved to other states who allowed horse racing to continue," he said. "I felt like we lost out on an opportunity from when horse racing was stopped in mid-March until now."

Marr lamented the sudden end to New Mexico racing as the COVID-19 pandemic reached El Paso and southern New Mexico.

"We were still training and the horses were still there at Sunland Park. We could have still raced," he said. "We’re going to take precautions and we’re going to do the best we can to keep our sport going. Everyone wants to get back to work and we want to be successful."

Horses circle the paddock at Ruidoso Downs on May 22 during the reopening of live racing in New Mexico. Tracks were shutdown in mid-March because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ruidoso Downs leads the way for Albuquerque and Hobbs' race tracks to start their seasons later in the year. Marr said he expected the race tracks to open soon.

"It’s going to be different without fans, because those fans love the races and impact the Ruidoso community," Marr said.

Ismael Trejo, executive director of the New Mexico Horse Racing Commission, said he's heard some describe the scene at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino as "eerie."

With the lack of fan cheers and bustle, the sound of hoofs pounding and the whips of jockeys was exceptionally loud. 

"Yes, it'll be different without spectators and spectators are certainly part of horse racing, and we'll certainly be lacking that, but the horses are the star of the show," Trejo said. 

Trejo said there are seven commission staff members on site this weekend who will monitor everything from testing to running of the races to ensure adherence to the Horse Racing Act.

"Racing commission staff was supplied with masks, which are required to be in public at the current time, and the racing commission staff that interact with public and offices have been supplied with Plexiglas, similar to what you would see at Walmart or Home Depot to protect the public and employees — it goes both ways there," he said.  

More:Safety top priority as New Mexico horse racing resumes at Ruidoso Downs

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@currentargus.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531.