Archive photos: Horse racing at Rillito Park
Rillito Race Track opened in 1943 on Rukin Jelks’ stud farm. It is considered the birthplace of modern, formalized Quarter Horse racing. Features like the "photo finish" and straightway chute system were introduced at Rillito Park.
Thoroughbred racing began at the track in 1953. The track has been on the chopping block on and off since the 1980s, but the fans keep coming back. The old stables were demolished to make way for soccer fields. But the track, infield and grand stands come back to life each January.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Mud-covered jockeys at the Tucson Turf Club at Rillito Park on Feb. 12, 1968.
J. Rukin Jelks
J. Rukin Jelks' Rillito Track, about 1944.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Snow across the Santa Catalina Mountains as the horses run at Rillito Park in January, 1960.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Rillito Park in 1953.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Horses racing at Rillito Park in Nov, 1953.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Opening day cover treatment for a Tucson Citizen story on horse racing at Rillito Park, ca. 1950s.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Undated photo of horses racing at Rillito Park.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Undated photo of horses down the stretch at Rillito Park.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Jockey Ron Beverly wipes mud from his face after a 350 yard quarter horse race on a very wet track in January, 1992.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Horses and jockeys round the final turn at Rillito Park in November, 1988.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Chariot races at Rillito Park in 1993, organized by Ty Cobb of Sierra Vista.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
A close race at the Rillito Downs in November, 1978.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
This 1978 photo shows the largest crowd in recent years, 3,210, attended opening day at Rillito Downs and saw several close races.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Horses spring from the gate at the Tucson Turf Club at Rillito Park in March, 1968.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Undated photo of horses at Rillito Park.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Horse racing at Rillito Park in 1944, prior to the grandstands.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Rillito Park Race Track sign in 1955.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Grandstands at Rillito Park in 1955.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Rillito Park in 1952.
Horse racing at Rillito Park
Undated photo of horses down the stretch at Rillito Park. Likely 1950s.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Richard Gamez, 67, had raced at the track since 1976.
Richard Gamez, 66, had retired from the sport, but returned to racing at the Tucson track after the death of his wife.
The Rillito Park Foundation decided Thursday to form a panel made up of experts in and outside of the racing industry to take a serious look at what Rillito can do to make it better.
The deaths represent 1.09% of the 456 horses entered to race at Rillito between February 26 and March 20, according to information provided by the track.
Jelks was a founder of the Tucson group that sponsored the first World's Championship Quarter Horse Speed Trials.
It is the origin of the straightaway chute system, a standard for quarter horse racing today. Its original chute is on the National Register of Historic Places, as is the entire track.
2025 horse racing season at Tucson's Rillito Downs canceledAn "unfair advantage" being discovered in the proposal process, and severe storm damage to the track, led county officials to also pause searching for a new operator.