After scandal, Ruidoso Downs is moving forward - video

In recent months, horse racing in New Mexico has taken some major blows, including Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino, home of the prestigious All American Futurity. But as the summer racing season winds down, including the All American Futurity on Labor Day, optimism still remains high at the track among track officials and horsemen. In June, the racetrack was raided by federal authorities in an early morning operation that caught many by surprise. Agents seized dozens of racehorses allegedly involved in a money-laundering scheme by Los Zetas, one of the most violent drug cartels in Mexico. Dozens of animals were hauled away in two large horse trailers. The alleged scheme involved laundering millions of dollars by purchasing and racing horses that have won some of the nation's biggest quarter-horse races, including the 2010 All American Futurity, which was won by Mr. Piloto. "The raid was disappointing and disheartening," said Shaun Hubbard, who is the general manager of Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino and grandson of owner R.D. Hubbard. Despite the negative news, attendance is slightly up from last year and the overall betting handle is up as well. Through July 12, 90,000 people had attended races compared with 87,000 at the same point last year. And while the on-site betting handle was down three percent ($4,046,257) through July 13 compared with the same time last year, the overall betting handle, which includes out-of-state betting on races at Ruidoso, was up 10.5 percent ($12,193,900). Last year, an incredible 22,650 fans watched as Ochoa claimed the All American Futurity. The Hubbards have little doubt that this year's race will once again draw a significant amount of fans and interest from around the country...more

Here's the El Paso Times video: