The Downs at Santa Fe was a horse racing facility near Santa Fe, New Mexico, running

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

and American quarter horse events. Originally named Santa Fe Downs, the $5.5 million mile oval track opened in June 1971 with a crowd of 11,000 people, causing traffic jams in the area. Although the track enjoyed good attendance and handle, the heavy debt load to build the track became unmanageable when interest rates rose in the mid-1970s and the track filed for bankruptcy in December 1975. The track reopened only a year later under the name Downs at Santa Fe when a group led by local businessman Ken Newton acquired the track. Operations resumed with good result. Between 1976 and 1984, The Downs' average daily handle went from $209,827 to $458,031 - the largest percentage increase of any track in the nation during that time. Among the famous horses that raced there was

Real Quiet Real Quiet (March 7, 1995 – September 27, 2010) was an American Eclipse Award, Champion Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse. He was nicknamed "The Fish" by his trainer due to his narrow frame. He is best remembered for winning the first ...

, a horse that won the first two legs of

American Triple Crown In the United States, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, commonly known as the Triple Crown, is a series of horse races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The three r ...

. Notable jockeys Garrett K. Gomez and Mike Smith won their first races at the Downs. In 1996, Pojoaque Pueblo acquired and renovated the Downs at Santa Fe Racetrack for $7 million, but closed it only one year later after heavy losses.Tribe To Close Santa Fe Downs Because of Financial Losses, Albuquerque Journal, November 22, 1997 Today the property is used as an outdoor event venue for concerts, flea markets, and youth soccer.

References

Defunct horse racing venues in the United States Sports venues completed in 1971 1971 establishments in New Mexico {{horseracing-venue-stub