RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—APRIL 22, 2021—In a meeting Thursday New Mexico Racing Commission and New Mexico Gaming Commission approved an agreement by All American Ruidoso Downs, Inc. (AARD), the entity that purchased Ruidoso Downs and Billy The Kid Casino from R.D. Hubbard in 2017, to have a management team from Sunland Park take over operations of the Ruidoso racetrack and its casino.

Rick Baugh, general manager of Sunland Park and Casino, is expected to relocate key management employees to Ruidoso for the upcoming season set to open May 28th. Baugh formerly worked for Phillips Ranch and Hubbard before taking the reins of Sunland Park, owned by the family of late Stan Fulton.

The Billy The Kid Casino reopened earlier this month after being shuttered for more than year due to COVID-19 restrictions put in place by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan.

Ruidoso Downs backside began accepting horses for the upcoming meet last week and horses begin training over the track on Monday. Two-year-old training races are expected to be held at the track on May 3 thru 5.

Jeff True who was hired as Ruidoso Downs President and General Manager when AARD purchased the track will no longer be involved in AARD or Ruidoso Downs.

Johnny Trotter, John Andreini, Stan Sigman and Chicho Flores were the original AARD group that purchased the track from Hubbard. Andreini passed away in 2018 and Sigman passed away last December. The Sigman estate is still involved in the partnership with Trotter and Flores.

The Ruidoso Horse Sales, Inc, a separate entity from AARD, will continue to operate independently under the direction of longtime sale manager Lowell Neumayer.