Where The Downs, Albuquerque sits
The track occupies part of Expo New Mexico, the state fairgrounds in Albuquerque’s International District, bounded by Central Avenue, Lomas Boulevard, San Pedro Drive and Louisiana Boulevard. The fairgrounds were laid out with Works Progress Administration money in 1936 to 1938, and the State Fair has been held here since 1938.
The street address is 145 Louisiana Blvd. NE. Visitors driving to The Downs, Albuquerque turn in at the casino gate on Louisiana; the grandstand lies beyond the casino building. Uptown shopping and the Interstate 40 corridor are a few minutes north, which puts most of the city’s hotels within a short drive of the racetrack.
The 2026 racing schedule
No track in New Mexico raced more days in 2026. The Ruidoso Downs meet, forced off its mountain site by flooding, used the oval for 49 days from May 22 to September 7. The Downs’ own season with the State Fair began September 4 and runs to October 25, 30 days in all.
| Meet | 2026 dates | Days | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruidoso Downs (relocated) | May 22 – Sep 7 | 49 | Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American futurities |
| The Downs & State Fair | Sep 4 – Oct 25 | 30 | State Fair racing, Wednesdays and weekends |
The two calendars share several dates in late August and early September, when both meets list the same weekends, so the racing schedule at The Downs, Albuquerque never paused during the handover. Evening programs ran through the summer; the June Ruidoso cards posted first race at 6:05 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Big quarter horse days at The Downs, Albuquerque
The relocation brought New Mexico’s richest races to the city and filled the racing schedule with stakes. Highly Lethal V broke the 350-yard track record in winning the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on June 7, and Gf Shes Sinful took the $750,000 Ruidoso Derby under the lights. The $1 million Rainbow Futurity followed on July 12.
Labor Day closed the summer with the $3 million All American Futurity, the $1 million All American Derby, the $700,000 All American Oaks and the $250,000 All American Gold Cup, all on one card. It was the third straight year the futurity was run here instead of in Ruidoso, and the owners plan to take it to Texas from 2027.
Inside the casino
The casino lies near the foothills of the Sandia Mountains and carries about 750 games, the maximum a New Mexico racino may operate. Since live dealers are not allowed, blackjack and double-wheel roulette run on electronic terminals, and slot denominations range from a penny to $5. The free Triple Crown Club card earns points, drawings and food discounts.
The floor opens at 11 a.m. most days, at 10 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and closes between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. depending on the night. As in the rest of the state, 26% of net machine revenue goes to the state in tax and 20% to horsemen’s purses, which helps explain the six- and seven-figure stakes.
Dining, drinks and dancing
The Crown Room is the formal option, serving a prix fixe dinner at $49.95 per person on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 8 p.m. The Downs Café opens 30 minutes before the casino with deli sandwiches, huevos rancheros, green chile stew and a green chile double cheeseburger, and stays open until 2 a.m. on weekends.
The First Turn Lounge inside the casino doubles as a sports bar and simulcast room, with more than 30 screens, a patio, live local bands and dancing. Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 7 p.m. and all day on Sunday. Closing time is 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Simulcast and betting at the track
The simulcast area on the first floor of the grandstand at The Downs, Albuquerque opens at 9:30 a.m. daily, with full cards from U.S. and overseas tracks. Hundreds of televisions sit near the windows. The track’s betting guide notes that roughly 80% of each pool goes back to winners; our pari-mutuel betting explainer covers the rest.
Other New Mexico racinos
The Downs connects to the rest of the state calendar on the New Mexico racinos page. Ruidoso Downs is the track whose meet moved here; SunRay Park in Farmington is run by the same president; and Sunland Park near El Paso races from January to April. Set a firm budget before any visit.