Buddy attended high school at New Mexico Military Institute and went on to major in Banking and Finance at Tulane University. He entered Michigan State’s graduate program and became a Certified Hotel Administrator who then returned to his native home of Las Cruces to build the Holiday Inn de Las Cruces and The Plaza Suites hotels. In 1985, he bought the Double Eagle restaurant in Mesilla. Today, he’s still racing horses.
Every horse that Buddy gets involved with begins with a partnership. “There is a very social aspect to racing horses,” he said. “Part of the fun is in having a partner and a group that enjoys participating.” One of Buddy’s horses just won the All-American Thoroughbred Derby at Ruidoso Downs this past Labor Day, and the picture taken in the winner’s circle had fifty-six friends in it. Buddy’s immediate family is also directly involved with their horses. His wife, Margaret, has become quite knowledgeable about the lineage of race horses, which is key when purchasing through auctions, and she also creates the fun and catchy names of their horses. Buddy’s daughter, Elizabeth, recently started a business called Belly Rocks, which offers an adhesive jewelry alternative for customers interested in belly jewels without the piercing. The business was such a success that it became the name of one of their spirited silver-grey two-year-old winning fillies, and now Belly Rocks’ bridle is adorned with the sparkling Swarovski crystals after which she was named. Belly Rocks’ racing colors of lime green with a gold embroidered Eagle on a navy blue ball coupled with her grandeur as a thoroughbred horse makes for an attractive site to behold.
Buddy’s career as a race horse owner has spanned over ten years now, and his eyes still light up and sparkle when he talks about his magnificent animals. “Phantom Account is now three years old, and he just won the Ruidoso Derby. He is a beautiful dark bay, standing at almost seventeen hands.” While Buddy and his partners race horses in New York, Kentucky, California and many other locations, he is still partial to New Mexico racing simply due to his native love of the state. His New Mexico trainer, Ray Ashford Jr., is a native New Mexican from Carlsbad working with horses at the Double Eagle Racing Stable. “He’s doing a wonderful job, and he has a great record with our horses.”
Buddy has a great record with New Mexico. Three years ago, one of Buddy’s horses, Brew, ran in the Winsham Lad race at Sunland Park Racetrack and tied Winsham Lad’s record time. Buddy’s mother, Mrs. Ritter-Simpson, was in attendance at the race, and Buddy had the privilege of presenting the championship trophy to his mother, whose horse had set the original record many years before. It was a full-circle moment for a family so dedicated to their horses and their region.
Buddy Ritter’s passion for horse racing is right on track. By combining friends, family and fun with talented trainers and outstanding horses, Buddy has ensured that regardless of race results, he will end up in the winner’s circle.
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