Page 48 - New Mexico Horse Breeder Summer 2018

MEETING TIME
REPORT FROM FEBRUARY 2018
NEW MEXICO RACING COMMISSION MEETING
The New Mexico Racing Commission held its monthly meeting in the board room at the Mt. Cristo Rey Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association executive director Anna Fay Davis gave the commission the race-a-day report for the
first 32 days of the Sunland Park meet, which opened in December. During the first 32 days of the meet, the track carded 145 New Mexico- bred races, 117 for Thoroughbreds and 28 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, 137 state-bred races were contested during the first 32 days
of the 2016-17 Sunland Park meet, 105 for Thoroughbreds and 32 for Quarter Horses.
An average of 4.53 New Mexico-bred races per day were run during the first 32 days of the Sunland Park meet, an increase of 6 percent over the 4.28 state-bred races per day during the first 32 days of the 2016-17 Sunland meet.
Also during the first 31 days of the Sunland Park season, a total of 226 New Mexico-breds competed in open overnight races, of which 53 (23 percent) finished first, second, or third. Of this total, 31 were Thoroughbreds and 22 were Quarter Horses. Bonuses totaling $33,269.60 were paid to the owners of these horses.
Ms. Davis added that, during the first 32
days of the Sunland Park meet, the track carded 129 New Mexico-bred overnight races.
“There were 1,203 New Mexico-breds that were scheduled to participate in these races,” she reported. “This is an average of 9.33 New Mexico-breds per race.”
During his presentation to the commission, New Mexico Horsemen’s Association (www. newmexicohorsemen.com) executive director Pat Bingham said that the NMHA is looking at using some of its purse-fund money to pay for workers’ compensation insurance.
“This would make (the premiums) more affordable,” Mr. Bingham said. “Currently, there are not many trainers signed up for workers’ com- pensation insurance. You can count on two hands the number of horsemen who have signed up.”
Commission executive director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo thanked the racing industry’s lobbyists for help- ing extend SB 125 (Horse Racing Act) for another four years. He also reported that the retroactive purse payment for Zia Park has been taken care of.
“The horsemen and commission now have a program in place to monitor the amount of purse money available,” Mr. Trejo said. “This will help prevent future large retroactive payments.”
Mr. Trejo also thanked New Mexico’s tracks for locking down their barn areas after it was learned that there was an EHV-1 out- break in Arizona.
ALSO AT THE MEETING:
• The commission approved Dr. Frank Anderson to serve as official state veterinarian at SunRay Park, which opens April 21. The com- mission also approved SunRay Park’s 2018 post times and wagering format.
• The commission approved the Albuquerque Downs/New Mexico State Fair 2018 condition book and officials, stakes sched- ule, and stall application.
• The commission approved Zia Park’s 2018 stakes schedule with a few adjustments to the open stakes so as to not exceed 20 percent of the purse fund for stakes races. The commission also approved Zia Park’s 2018 Quarter Horse stakes nomination forms.
• The commission approved the condition book and racing officials for the Ruidoso Downs meet, which opens May 25.
• The commission approved Gerald Richards to replace Rod Bray as official clocker at Sunland Park, effective January 12 through the end of the season.
REPORT FROM MARCH 2018
NEW MEXICO RACING COMMISSION MEETING
The New Mexico Racing Commission held its monthly meeting in the board room at the commis- sion offices in Albuquerque on March 22.
New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association executive director Anna Fay Davis gave the commission the race-a-day report for the
first 52 days of the Sunland Park meet, which opened in December. During the first 52 days of the meet, the track carded 226 New Mexico- bred races, 184 for Thoroughbreds and 42 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, 218 state-bred races were contested during the first 52 days
of the 2016-17 Sunland Park meet, 171 for Thoroughbreds and 47 for Quarter Horses.
An average of 4.35 New Mexico-bred races per day were run during the first 52 days of the Sunland Park meet, an increase of 4 percent over the 4.19 state-bred races per day during the first 52 days of the 2016-17 Sunland meet.
Also during the first 43 days of the Sunland Park season, a total of 289 New Mexico-breds competed
in open overnight races, of which 76 (26 percent) finished first, second, or third. Of this total, 53 were Thoroughbreds and 23 were Quarter Horses. Bonuses totaling $57,154.20 were paid to the own- ers of these horses.
Ms. Davis added that, during the first 52 days of the Sunland Park meet, the track carded 207 New Mexico-bred overnight races.
“There were 1,973 New Mexico-breds that were scheduled to participate in these races,” she reported. “This is an average of 9.53 New Mexico-breds per race.”
During his presentation to the commission, New Mexico Horsemen’s Association (www. newmexicohorsemen.com) executive director Pat Bingham reported that 49 people voted via internet for the NMHA’s horsemens’ committee for Sunland Park.
“It was successful, but we need to work out some of the kinks before our next track committee
election,” Mr. Bingham said. “Next time, we’re planning to have a drop-down box listing all the candidates. That should make it easier for people to vote and increase participation in the election.”
Mr. Bingham also told the commission that “we’d like to start a dialogue on 2019 race dates as soon as possible.
“We’d like to meet with the tracks to see what their intentions are for next year,” he added.
Commission executive director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo discussed the upcoming Sunland Derby weekend, which annually draws the largest on- track crowds to Sunland Park.
“I’m confident that Sunland Park manage- ment will put its best foot forward for all of the out-of-state visitors and horsemen,” he said.
Mr. Trejo also announced that the walk- through safety inspection for SunRay Park will take place on April 10. The track will open its 33-day season on April 21. He added that during
46 New Mexico Horse Breeder