Came to the café wanting some nachos, looked at the menu and thought tamales sounds good too. I ordered both nachos and tamales, I was very disappointed. Gas stations nachos is better that what they served me here. Tamales must have been microwaved, I should have stuck with what I usually order.... breakfast!! Please do better, I like this place.
Elijah
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July 08, 2026
Unfortunately I was there when the ambulance wrecked through the rail so the races got cancelled completely. BUT it's a Decent little spot & the casino attached has a decent bar in the back, usually live music.
Dan Martinez
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August 11, 2026
Clean low budget place. Restaurant is very good and good hamburgers with good prices, staff is friendly.
Machines are a little tight but fun to play. Definitely not your higher class casino!
Leesh C
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October 26, 2025
Went for the races. They’re around 17 mins apart, you can see the horses then bet as low as $1 per win/best in show each race. The ticket agents are helpful in placing bets. You can pay inside to sit for $5+, sit for free on the benches, or sit in the $5 seating and someone will come around to gather your money and give you a wrist band. Cash is helpful for bet placing and seating. Food was delish, $8 for a burger and fries $4 for the 24oz soda (they took card). Most people came in with their own drinks/food. If you want a booklet, in 2025 they were $3. We stayed for 4 races due to timing in our day (about 2 1/2 hours). Overall, a great way to spend the day and will make this a yearly thing.
Trey Doocy
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December 24, 2025
I enjoy checking out horse tracks, and have probably seen between 40-50 different tracks in my travels. We were passing through Albuquerque, and I wanted to check out “The Downs”. Upon pulling in with our one ton dually and fifth wheel rv, security drove up to us and started yelling we had to park on the far north east corner, and none of the other empty areas. He then circled back around and yelled something at me from 6 spaces away with his window partially rolled down, making no attempt to get closer or get out of the vehicle. I walked behind the casino area towards the grandstand, to take a few pictures of the track. From there, I was met by security #2 and #3. #2 was fine and respectful the whole time, while #3 (mustache) was born for this job. He started questioning what I was doing, I told him and showed him the pictures that I took. He progressed to be a jerk about it and asked to see my drivers license. He grabbed it and tried to take a picture with his personal phone, I told him I wasn’t comfortable with that, and asked for my license back. He proceeded to hold it up above his head to play keep away like a toddler would. I told him I wanted it back, and didn’t raise my voice or get cute about it. He went on to give me a lecture about walking around private property. I informed him that I saw no signage of trespassing where I should not be, and even showed the picture of the sign that mentioned only not to park there, but nothing about walking near there. Not wanted to argue and realizing it was not going to get me anywhere, we came to the mutual agreement that I could have my license back if I left the premises. So as I walked back to my truck/trailer that had my wife and 2 kids waiting on me, the two security guards followed behind me as the other drove, making sure we left the property. Would have been cooler if I was able to make it to the grandstand to actually see the track, instead of just part of it. I mentioned this to one of my jockey friends that used to ride there, and his first response was security was always overbearing at this track.
Management:
Your website has a history page, but only includes 5 old pictures and no written history, that’s weak sauce.
Your website also incudes a couple horse racing pictures, but they aren’t from your track. One looked like a foreign turf horse judging by the jockeys style and helmet. The other looks like it may be from South America, judging by the horses equipment and riders style. Why not take pride in your local riders and horses and use them??
Do better
Our Address
145 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA
Claim Listing: The Downs Racetrack & Casino
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Came to the café wanting some nachos, looked at the menu and thought tamales sounds good too. I ordered both nachos and tamales, I was very disappointed. Gas stations nachos is better that what they served me here. Tamales must have been microwaved, I should have stuck with what I usually order.... breakfast!! Please do better, I like this place.
Unfortunately I was there when the ambulance wrecked through the rail so the races got cancelled completely. BUT it's a Decent little spot & the casino attached has a decent bar in the back, usually live music.
Clean low budget place. Restaurant is very good and good hamburgers with good prices, staff is friendly. Machines are a little tight but fun to play. Definitely not your higher class casino!
Went for the races. They’re around 17 mins apart, you can see the horses then bet as low as $1 per win/best in show each race. The ticket agents are helpful in placing bets. You can pay inside to sit for $5+, sit for free on the benches, or sit in the $5 seating and someone will come around to gather your money and give you a wrist band. Cash is helpful for bet placing and seating. Food was delish, $8 for a burger and fries $4 for the 24oz soda (they took card). Most people came in with their own drinks/food. If you want a booklet, in 2025 they were $3. We stayed for 4 races due to timing in our day (about 2 1/2 hours). Overall, a great way to spend the day and will make this a yearly thing.
I enjoy checking out horse tracks, and have probably seen between 40-50 different tracks in my travels. We were passing through Albuquerque, and I wanted to check out “The Downs”. Upon pulling in with our one ton dually and fifth wheel rv, security drove up to us and started yelling we had to park on the far north east corner, and none of the other empty areas. He then circled back around and yelled something at me from 6 spaces away with his window partially rolled down, making no attempt to get closer or get out of the vehicle. I walked behind the casino area towards the grandstand, to take a few pictures of the track. From there, I was met by security #2 and #3. #2 was fine and respectful the whole time, while #3 (mustache) was born for this job. He started questioning what I was doing, I told him and showed him the pictures that I took. He progressed to be a jerk about it and asked to see my drivers license. He grabbed it and tried to take a picture with his personal phone, I told him I wasn’t comfortable with that, and asked for my license back. He proceeded to hold it up above his head to play keep away like a toddler would. I told him I wanted it back, and didn’t raise my voice or get cute about it. He went on to give me a lecture about walking around private property. I informed him that I saw no signage of trespassing where I should not be, and even showed the picture of the sign that mentioned only not to park there, but nothing about walking near there. Not wanted to argue and realizing it was not going to get me anywhere, we came to the mutual agreement that I could have my license back if I left the premises. So as I walked back to my truck/trailer that had my wife and 2 kids waiting on me, the two security guards followed behind me as the other drove, making sure we left the property. Would have been cooler if I was able to make it to the grandstand to actually see the track, instead of just part of it. I mentioned this to one of my jockey friends that used to ride there, and his first response was security was always overbearing at this track. Management: Your website has a history page, but only includes 5 old pictures and no written history, that’s weak sauce. Your website also incudes a couple horse racing pictures, but they aren’t from your track. One looked like a foreign turf horse judging by the jockeys style and helmet. The other looks like it may be from South America, judging by the horses equipment and riders style. Why not take pride in your local riders and horses and use them?? Do better