The All American Futurity is a race for two-year-old American Quarter Horse racehorses traditionally run on Labor Day. It is the last leg of the AQHA Triple Crown that has only been won once, by Special Effort in 1981. A $4 million bonus was once offered to the horse that could sweep all three Triple Crown races. It started in 1959, with a purse of $129,686.85.Ruidoso Downs History of the All American Futurity accessed on September 24, 2007 It has always billed itself as the richest race in American Quarter Horse racing;Wiggins Great American Speedhorse p. 59-65 in 1978, the purse was over a million dollars and in 1982, the winner's portion of the purse totaled over a million dollars for the first time. The 1980 edition was carried live in prime-time on CBS. The 2024 version of the race had a purse of $3 million and a winner's share of $1.5 million, making it one of the richest races in North America.
Ruidoso Downs Race Track in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico held the All American Futurity through 2023. The race was moved to the New Mexico State Fair at The Downs at Albuquerque in 2024 due to flood damage at Ruidoso Downs, and was moved again in 2025 due to additional flood damage. The Downs at Albuquerque will host the race for a third time in 2026. Prior to the 2026 race, it was announced by Ruidoso Downs officials that the All American Futurity and its supporting races would be moved to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas for the foreseeable future starting in 2027.
The track record was set at this race in 2006, when No Secrets Here finished in 20.886 seconds for 440 yards, for an average speed of 43.091 miles/hr.
Winners by year Year Horse 1959 Galobar 1960 Tonto Bars Hank 1961 Pokey Bar 1962 Hustling Man 1963 Goetta 1964 Decketta 1965 Savannah Jr 1966 Go Dick Go 1967 Laico Bird 1968 Three Oh's 1969 Easy Jet 1970 Rocket Wrangler 1971 Mr Kid Charge 1972 Possumjet 1973 Timeto Thinkrich 1974 Easy Date 1975 Bugs Alive In 75 1976 Real Wind 1977 Hot Idea 1978 Moon Lark 1979 Pie In The Sky 1980 Higheasterjet 1981 Special Effort 1982 Mr Master Bug 1983 On A High 1984 Eastex 1985 Mr Trucka Jet 1986 Ronas Ryon 1987 Elans Special 1988 Merganser 1989 Strawberry Silk 1990 Refrigerator 1991 Royal Quick Dash 1992 Dash Thru Traffic 1993 A Classic Dash 1994 Noblesse Six 1995 Winalota Cash 1996 Streakin Flyer 1997 Corona Cash 1998 Falling In Loveagain 1999 A Delightful Dasher 2000 Eyesa Special 2001 Ausual Suspect 2002 AB What A Runner 2003 By By JJ 2004 DM Shicago 2005 Teller Cartel 2006 No Secrets Here 2007 HeartsWideOpen 2008 Stolis Winner2009Running Brook Gal2010Mr Piloto2011Ochoa2012One Dashing Eagle2013Handsome Jack Flash2014JM Miracle2015Jess Good Candy2016Imperial Eagle2017Fly Baby Fly2018Apocalyptical Jess2019Mr. Jess Jenkins2020Whistle Stop Cafe2021KJ Desperado2022Hes Judgeandjury2023Cowboys Gun Z2024Hezgothelook Z2025King of the Tide
References
Further reading Wiggins, Walt The Great American Speedhorse: A Guide to Quarter Racing New York: Sovereign Books 1978
McPhee, John Ruidoso The New Yorker, published April 22, 1974.
External links
Video of the first All American Futurity in 1959 Ruidoso Downs History of the All American Futurity accessed on September 24, 2007