Photo of Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Billy the Kid Casino in Ruidoso, New Mexico

Opening weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino means optimism is high for the nation's top quarter-horse jockeys, trainers and horses.

If you're still making plans for Memorial Day, you'll have lots of opportunities for fun, from the region's largest wine festival close to home to day trips to enjoy the blues in Silver City or the state's most popular water recreation areas near Truth or Consequences. There are also horse races in Ruidoso, a balloon fest in Anthony, art fairs, concerts and more.

As oil prices continue to fall, the affect is slowly showing up at gas pumps. Regular grade prices in Ruidoso were at $3.

dstallings@ruidosonews.com Fees charged to collect yard waste will change in Ruidoso next fiscal year to reflect compliance or non-compliance with village forestry management rules, but exactly what property owners will pay still must be calculated.

A gas leak caused a vacant home to explode Tuesday night in Ruidoso. According to neighbors, no one had lived in the home for several months.

Deliberative, candid and aboveboard, this Ruidoso horse trainer makes for a good conversationalist - if you can get him to sit down for a few minutes, that is.

Lincoln County Commissioner Kathryn Minter stood alone on the board Tuesday in a plea to allow voters in the November general election a chance to reaffirm or reject a business retention gross receipts tax designed to offset the annual tax burden of Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.

Justin Slaughter, 28, has been sentenced to the maximum 10 years in prison followed by two years of probation for the 2008 death of Julian Orozco, the Ruidoso News reported.... Read more »

Ruidoso will take the move into fire restrictions on Monday. The use of charcoal briquettes or fire pits will be prohibited on public and private property.

Two of the three champion 2011 juveniles Ochoa and Feature Mr Bojangles - make their 2012 debuts on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs in the six trials to the Grade 1, $679,207 Ruidoso Derby.