Page 27 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2024 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

RED RAIDERS

at the Races

in Ruidoso

by Curt Langford,
Texas Tech Alumni Association

hrough the years, Texas Tech students and alumni last year to accommodate larger crowds. This year Red
have enjoyed a recreational relationship with the Raiders will have private access to the large, covered patio
TRuidoso mountains. While it would be hard to outside the newly constructed Anejo Cantina, as close to
determine the exact amount, a sizable number of alumni the races as one can get without being a jockey!
have retired to or have second homes in Lincoln County,
NM, with generations of students making memories on Red Raider Weekend at the Ruidoso Downs has helped
the mountain throughout seasons past. enable the establishment of the TTAA's Ruidoso Chapter,
with the vision of offering Texas Tech scholarships to
With a summer fondness for the cool New Mexico pines, future students from Lincoln County.
the Texas Tech Alumni Association hosted its inaugural
Red Raider Weekend at the Ruidoso Downs six years ago, Roswell, New Mexico native and Alto, New Mexico
formalizing Texas Tech Day at Ruidoso Downs. It's been resident, David Deason '80, '10, agreed to lead the alumni
a popular event ever since, with increased turnouts every chapter and is committed to building Texas Tech's
year among local alumni and those making the trip from presence with local alumni, leveraging the summer event
Lubbock, the Panhandle, Eastern New Mexico, and other to their advantage.
parts of Texas.
A Saddle Tramp while at Tech, Deason has a history of
In its early years, the weekend included a Friday managing restaurants in Lubbock, including the former
reception at Billy the Kid Casino, with a lunch buffet in Santa Fe Restaurant and Bar at Fourth Street and Avenue
the All-American Turf Club prior to the races on Saturday. Q and later the legendary County Line Bar-B-Q near the
The Masked Rider makes a celebratory run on the track airport. He then managed Top Tier Catering on campus
to officially begin the races on Tech Day, followed by a before retiring in 2021. An avid skier at Ski Apache, he
group picture with the mascot trackside. Live concerts spends most of his days on the mountain; the opportunity
have often culminated the day, including Tech's own Josh to lead the chapter was a good fit for him and the TTAA.
Abbott in 2022.
“Red Raider Weekend at the Ruidoso Downs is a popular
With the event's growing popularity, the association's weekend with our local alumni and so many who make
National Board of Directors hosted its summer board the trip. As someone who loves this area and my alma
meeting last year in conjunction with Red Raider mater, it was a natural next step to get more involved
Weekend at the Ruidoso Downs. with a local chapter to connect with our New Mexico Red
Raiders,” Deason said.
The Friday night program evolved into a wine reception,
with entertainment at Enchanted Vine, and an optional Deason was also recently nominated to the association’s
golf tournament was added at Rainmakers Resort. Tickets National Board of Directors, beginning his first term
were limited as the event outgrew the space provided, but this spring.
Ruidoso Downs opened an outdoor beer garden trackside

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