Gilbreath To Pass On Ruidoso Downs Summer
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (February 28, 2008) – One trainer who will not win the 50th anniversary running of the All American Futurity on Labor Day is 2-time All American winner Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, who has announced he will not be bringing a stable of horses to Ruidoso Downs this summer.
Gilbreath won the 1983 running with On A High and the 1991 running with world champion Refrigerator, still the all-time leading money earning quarter horse at more than $2.1 million.
The summer season at Ruidoso Downs begins on May 23 with the trials to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity and runs through the traditional Labor Day closing when the Grade 1 finals to the $2 million All American Futurity are contested.
Gilbreath plans to take a break at his Brock, Texas ranch and “rehab some horses. My plate is loaded.”
But, Gilbreath is not ruling out a return to Ruidoso Downs in 2009. “I love Ruidoso. I’ll be back; I’ll be back,” he said.
In addition to his two All American Futurity wins, Gilbreath has had remarkable success in Grade 1 stakes at Ruidoso Downs. He won the Grade 1 All American Derby with Six Popper (1986) and Snow Big Deal (2003). He won the Rainbow Derby six times in a 10-running stretch (1992-2001). He’s won the Rainbow Futurity with Yankee Win (1982), Cautious Memories (1997) and Thewayouwantmetoo (2004). He’s won the Ruidoso Derby with Ronas Sound (1995), Wicked Winner (1998), Rare Fasteroid (2001) and Winninginthebuff (2006). He’s won the Ruidoso Futurity with First Down Bounce (1998) and Red Clay Of Texas (2001).
Gilbreath will not add to this impressive record this summer, but there could be more wins in future years.