Flash Flooding Devastates Ruidoso Downs

Catastrophic flash flooding struck the Ruidoso, New Mexico area Tuesday night, washing away homes and businesses and causing significant damage to Ruidoso Downs. Several feet of water submerged the track and backside area with social media videos showing people and horses alike trying to escape through the torrent. Local reports indicate the Rio Ruidoso river rose to over 20 feet in under an hour in a remarkable, record-breaking flood event, the second Ruidoso has seen in as many years in an area already impacted by wildfire burn scars. CNN reported that at least three people, including two children, were killed in the flooding Tuesday.

“The water has receded some but there's still a lot of standing water around,” said New Mexico Racing Commission Executive Director Izzy Trejo. “It's around the whole facility including the front side and the barn area. It's complete devastation but at this point in time, the reports are that there are no deaths due to the flooding for the horses or humans involved. That's a big, big bright spot right now.”

The Ruidoso area is heavily prone to flash flooding, especially since the Salt and South Fork wildfires tore through the town last summer. The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque put the Ruidoso area under a Flood Watch Tuesday morning around 9:00 a.m. local time, stating that “A Flood Watch for Flash Flooding is in effect below the recent burn scars around Ruidoso [Tuesday]. Another round of showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall on already saturated ground.”

More rain and potential flooding was forecast for Wednesday but Trejo noted that the track was already in response mode for any further issues.

Ruidoso Downs Racetrack has been destroyed. Numerous horses were trapped in the flood waters. #nmwx pic.twitter.com/XR9Q15Xol4

— Scott (@RandomHeroWX) July 9, 2025

“Because of the forecast, the focus right now is to assure that any horses in lower barns are moved to the upper barns so they're safe in case we have a repeat of yesterday,” Trejo said. “We're prepared for the worst again.”

Trejo said the reports he'd received thus far about damage are limited to what he'd seen online.

“Looks like a bit of structural damage to some buildings in the barn area,” he said. “I know the fence to the test barn was knocked over. The jock's room is more than likely filled with mud as that's right there.”

The Quarter Horse track, which runs annually from May through September, is in the midst of racing with a 10-race card scheduled for Friday and two Grade I events on the calendar for Saturday.

This flood comes nearly one year to the date after flash flooding over a burn scar ran through portions of the track last July. Ruidoso just completed repairs from that flood event in April.

“Unlike last year, this year's flood was more significant in which the water reached all the way up to the quarter horse racing strip,” Trejo said.

Track owner Johnny Trotter told the Daily Racing Form that, due to the damage, the rest of the 2025 meet would be canceled.

“There will be no more racing there for 2025,” Trejo said. And as for any potential race rescheduling? “Talks are in the infancy stage still. People need to catch their breath here. 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.”

And while ways to help are limited at the moment, Trejo wanted to assure the public that the horses are safe and being cared for.

“[The track community] is getting things set up for the barn areas. We were concerned of course about the horses but from photos taken by staff, it looks like hay nets are full and the horses are safe and sound up on higher ground.”

Trejo was headed to Ruidoso from Albuquerque Wednesday afternoon to view the damage with a press conference scheduled for later Wednesday afternoon.

“The thoughts and outpouring from the racing community across the country has been significant and appreciated,” he said. “It helps us stay focused knowing that there's still a lot of good in this game.”

Major flooding at Ruidoso Downs today. It's being reported they still need trailers to remove horses. pic.twitter.com/V1HSeozXd8

— Michael Dempsey (@turfmichaeld) July 9, 2025