government
New Mexico Gaming Control Board signs off on Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino suspending operations
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Jordan Honeycutt , KTSM 9 News (NBC)
· July 23, 2026
· 1 min read
RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Gaming Control Board has signed off on Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino shuttering its operations for now. Heavy flooding last year left the culvert at the track's main entrance badly damaged. The Downs moved its horse racing schedule to Albuquerque,...
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Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Jordan Honeycutt, KTSM 9 News (NBC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway (KRQE) – The New Mexico Gaming Control Board has signed off on Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino shuttering its operations for now.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The suspension of operations at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino has significant implications for El Paso residents who frequently visit the track. Many El Pasoans have made the short drive to Ruidoso to enjoy the horse racing and casino amenities, and the closure may cause them to seek alternative entertainment options in the El Paso area. The damage from last year's heavy flooding highlights the vulnerability of regional infrastructure to extreme weather events, a concern that El Paso County is also familiar with given its own history of flash flooding. As the track's owners work to repair the damaged culvert and restore operations, El Pasoans will be watching to see how this affects the local economy and whether it leads to increased investment in flood mitigation measures in the region. The relocation of horse racing to Albuquerque may also lead some El Pasoans to explore gaming and racing options in southern New Mexico's neighboring city.
About this story
Original reporting by KTSM 9 News (NBC) . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KTSM 9 News (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: KTSM 9 News (NBC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Gaming Control Board has signed off on Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino shuttering its operations for now. Heavy flooding last year left the culvert at the track's main entrance badly damaged. The Downs moved its horse racing schedule to Albuquerque,...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by KTSM 9 News (NBC) and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jordan Honeycutt at KTSM 9 News (NBC). To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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