After months of coordination with local, state, and federal agencies, Ruidoso Downs Racetrack officials say the facility cannot be adequately protected from future flooding and is no longer sustainable as a public venue.
Racetrack leadership said they have worked “diligently” to evaluate ongoing flooding risks and determine whether mitigation measures could prevent a repeat of the catastrophic flooding events that struck in July 2024 and again in July 2025. Those floods, the racetrack said, severely impacted customers, patrons, employees, horsemen, and horses.
“Our goal has been to return the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack facilities and operations—if that could be done—with flood mitigation steps needed both on-site and off property upstream of the racetrack to avoid a future flooding event,” officials stated, adding that they have sought solutions for months “to no avail.”
On Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, racetrack owner Johnny Trotter, General Manager Rick Baugh, and Village of Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford traveled to the State Capitol in Santa Fe to meet with multiple state officials regarding additional flood mitigation efforts. During those meetings, they said they learned the racetrack would not be sustainable “now or for many years to come.”
Officials cited findings from engineering firm JE Fuller, which was retained by and working for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security. According to racetrack leadership, an Aug. 5, 2025 analysis by JE Fuller concluded that the racetrack faces serious and ongoing flood risks that cannot be sufficiently addressed with the mitigation measures proposed.
The racetrack said the report indicates that even moderate rainfall — around 2 inches per hour or more — could overwhelm existing and planned drainage improvements intended to reduce flooding impacts. Officials added that rainfall at that level over nearby fire-scarred areas creates a high risk of dangerous flooding that could be life-threatening.
“Based on the JE Fuller findings, and our follow-up discussions with governmental agencies, the engineers specializing in hydrology and flooding concluded that the racetrack is not sustainable as a public venue,” the statement said. “We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of everyone who attends Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, and our equine athletes. Continuing operations at the current site… is not feasible.”
Ruidoso Downs officials said the decision was emotional and difficult, calling it “the most challenging and emotional choice we have ever made as an organization.”
Despite the announcement, the organization said racing will continue by moving the schedule to The Downs at Albuquerque, and both the 2026 New Mexico Bred Sale and the Super Select sale will be held at the Ruidoso Downs Sales Pavilion as usual.
In a separate state on the Village of Ruidoso’s website, Mayor Crawford said, “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Johnny and Jana Trotter and Rick Baugh for their tireless efforts over the past two years to keep the track operational. Their dedication, commitment, and passion for preserving this vital part of our community have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Our community has faced unprecedented challenges over the past year, yet time and again we have demonstrated our resilience. We rose from the ashes of the South Fork and Salt Fires, and we are rebuilding after devastating floods. We will all continue recovery efforts, and we will persevere.
To our racing families, horsemen, visitors, and fans: we miss you already, and we are working every single day to welcome you back in 2027. Ruidoso remains open, our community remains strong, and our commitment to the sport of quarter horse racing remains unwavering.”
Officials said they will continue to communicate as next steps are evaluated.