ALBUQUERQUE, NM -It's never easy to say goodbye to a dear friend and it's sometimes painful.
At 6:32 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Downs at Albuquerque, horse racing fans, jockeys, owners, and trainers said adios, at least for the time being, to the All American Futurity and all other Triple Crown series races for 2-year-old and 3-year-old quarter horses.
Cowboys Flying gave fans a memorable performance to remember, winning the $3 million, 400-yard raceby two lengths as the 1-5 post time favorite.
And it was really hard for some not to feel sad and feel like a major part of our history would never return. The first All American futurity was run in 1959 at Ruidoso Downs.
The mood was somber, reflective and even hopeful that the All American Futurity
will someday return to New Mexico.
After three years of uncertainty due to flooding issues and structural issues and the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino, owners Johnny and Jana Trotter agreed on a framework with Global Gaming Solutions to move the Quarter Horse Racing Triple Crown Series, the All-American Super Select Sale and the Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, beginning in 2027.
Even the casino and simulcast betting area in Ruidoso have been closed since mid-July due to a damaged drainage culvert at the facility’s main entrance.
In the last three years, the All American Futurity, Derby and Oaks were held in Albuquerque as the Ruidoso track was unable to run the iconic races.
'This one hurts': Cliff Lambert won the first All American Futurity in 1959 as a jockey
The 90-year-old Lambert was emotional in a phone interview about the move to Texas. Lambert won the first-ever All American Futurity aboard Galobar.
"It's sad and this one hurts," Lambert said. "For about 70 years our family has been involved in Ruidoso. So many great memories and people. Ruidoso is a place so many people came to to enjoy the sport of horse racing and it gave opportunity to many people. I wish there was a different outcome. I wish people could have been at the track this weekend just to watch it on simulcast. Horse racing has often been about hope and I still think there is a hope one day the All American Futurity returns to New Mexico."
Cliff's son, Casey, is a former jockey and is currently a trainer with fond memories of Ruidoso.
"I spent many summers as a kid in Ruidoso and went on to ride and train horses there," Casey Lambert said. "It's sad to see these races move."
What former All American Futurity winning jockey JJ Gonzales says
The 50-year-old JJ Gonzales won the 2003 All American Futurity with By By JJ as a jockey and trained Think Twice Perry in the 2026 All American Futurity and offered his perspective.
"Winning the All American is an amazing experience and being from New Mexico, it means even more. It's a feeling that you never forget," said Gonzales, who is from Las Vegas, New Mexico in the Northern part of the state. "I'd love to see the All American stay in Ruidoso. There is always change in life and we have to go with the flow. I look at it this way, we still have an opportunity to run these big races and we'll adjust. But Ruidoso is a special place in many people's hearts."
Jockey Ricky Ramirez holds Ruidoso close to his heart
Ricky Ramirez knows a lot about the history of what it means to win a big race in the All American series. He won the 2020 All American Futurity aboard Whistle Stop Cafe and on Sunday, Sept. 7 in Albuquerque, he won the All American Oaks. aboard Flying Joy 1.
"Ruidoso is a second home to me," Ramirez said. "Winning big races is what we work for. Dallas is home for me, so the races will be closer for me. But we're grateful there is a home to keep these races going."
Some great history at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino
Trainer Jack Brooks won eight All American Futurities in his legendary career, jockey Jacky Martin won the All American Futurity seven times and the great 2-year-old horse Special Effort won the Quarter Horse Triple Crown in 1981, winning the Kansas Futurity, Rainbow Futurity and All American Futurity. The Kansas Futurity would later be named the Ruidoso Futurity.
"The history of the quarter horse racing, the history of the All American Futurity is tied to Ruidoso and New Mexico," trainer Marc Jungers said. "It's not easy seeing these big races leave Ruidoso."
Added trainer Jason Olmstead, whose horse Effortless Favorite won the 2026 All American Derby on Sunday: "Whether it's in Ruidoso or Albuquerque, it's special because none of these all American wins are given to you. Everyone looks ahead to Ruidoso because there is an excitement and joy to winning there and I hope it's not the end of an era for Ruidoso."
Past owner R.D. Hubbard had impact on Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino
R.D. Hubbard of Fort Worth bought the Ruidoso track in 1988 with partner Dr. Ed Allred and eventually became the sole owner until he sold it in 2017.
The Hubbard Museum of the American West opened just past the track's grandstands in 1992.
Under Hubbard, the first class of the Ruidoso Hall of Fame was inducted in 2003. The Hall celebrates top horses, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.
In 2017, former AQHA President Trotter purchased the track from Hubbard as part of a partnership. His partners included Stan Sigman, John Andreini, and Narciso "Chicho" Flores. Trotter bought out his partners in 2023.
What fans think of the move to Lone Star Park
"It's sad to see the Ruidoso races move," said longtime horse racing fan Karen Gutierrez of Albuquerque. "It was always such a great tradition to go to the All American Futurity or really any of the races in Ruidoso. I wish there was a better resolution, but I am hopeful that the All American Futurity will one day return to where it shoud be."
Horse racing fan John Martinez drove to Albuquerque from El Paso to watch the All American Derby on Sunday and the All American Futurity on Monday.
"If this is the last All American Futurity in New Mexico, I wanted to see it," Martinez said. "It's a great race and I've always liked watching the quarter horses in Ruidoso and Sunland Park. The All American Futurity should be in Ruidoso, it's where it began and where so many memories remain."
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 'This one hurts': All American Futurity bids farewell to New Mexico
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