Page 52 - NMHBASummer2019

MEETING TIME
NM RACING COMMISSION
MEETINGS
first-race post time from 12:30 p.m. to 12:50 (Mountain) to improve off-track handle figures. “Because there is more daylight, we are starting later and that has helped our handle numbers get better,” said Sunland Park Director of Racing Dustin Dix.
The commission also approved Sunland Park’s request to decrease purses 5 per- cent. “The road construction on Interstate 10 has caused our revenue, and the revenues of many other businesses in the area, to decline,” Mr. Dix said.
The commission also approved Sunland Park’s jockey and exercise insurance premium of $748,305. The insurance was purchased in February 2019 and is good for one year from date of purchase.
The commission also approved Zia Park’s 2019 nomination blanks for the Hobbs America Futurity, Hobbs America Derby, New Mexico Cup Futurity, and New Mexico Cup Derby. The commission also the 2019 stakes schedule for Zia Park’s 53-day meet, which opens September 21. The commission approved the condi-
tion book, purse structure and stakes schedule for Albuquerque Downs 56-day season, which opens June 28. There is one new stakes, the 7-furlong, $55,000 J.R. Malouff Handicap for Thoroughbreds
on July 13. Also, the Petticoat Stakes for 3-year-old fillies will now be restricted
to registered New Mexico-breds. The 6 1/2-furlong, $70,000 Petticoat Stakes will be run on July 6.
The commission approved Ruidoso Downs’ 2019 racing officials and wager- ing format.
REPORT FROM FEBRUARY 2019
The New Mexico Racing Commission held its monthly meeting in the board room at the commission offices in Albuquerque on Thursday, February 21.
New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association Executive Director Mary Barber gave the com- mission the NMHBA’s race-a-day report for the first 28 days of the Sunland Park meet, which opened December 28. During the first 28 days of the meet, the track carded 112 New Mexico- bred races, 83 for Thoroughbreds and 29 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, 128 state-bred races were contested during the first 28 days
of Sunland Park’s 2017-18 meet. Of those 128 state-bred races, 103 were for Thoroughbreds and 25 were for Quarter Horses.
An average of 4.00 New Mexico-bred races per day were run during the first 28 days of the 2018- 19 Sunland Park meet, a decrease of 12 percent from the 4.57 state-bred races per day run during the first 28 days of the track’s 2017-18 season.
Also, during the first 23 days of the 2018-19 Sunland Park meet, a total of 204 New Mexico- breds competed in open overnight races, of which 35 (23 Thoroughbreds and 12 Quarter Horses) finished first, second or third. Bonuses totaling $22,561.60 were paid to the owners of these horses.
“Also during the first 28 days of the Sunland meet, the track ran 96 New Mexico-bred over- night races,” Ms. Barber reported. “There were 896 New Mexico-breds scheduled to participate in these races. 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 distributed a handout to the
commission which included purse and starter breakdowns for the first 30 days of the Sunland Park meet.
During the first 30 days, there were 1,755 Thoroughbred starters and 628 Quarter Horse starters. Purses paid totaled $3,562,410 for Thoroughbreds and $1,404,700 for Quarter Horses, for a total of $4,967,110.
“Twenty-eight percent of Sunland Park’s purse funds are going to Quarter Horses, and 72 percent are going to Thoroughbreds,” Mr. Bingham said.
Mr. Bingham also spoke about the racing industry’s need to attract new racetrack owners, stating that the median age of current owners is about 60.
”We also would like to thank Zia Park for the maintenance done in the track’s stable area, and thank the Downs at Albuquerque for renovating both restrooms and addressing the drainage problems in their stable area,” Mr. Bingham added.
Commission Executive Director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo reported that his office has received several legislative bills for analysis and is researching how they may affect the state’s racing industry.
“We will continue to update the commis- sion as the legislative session comes to a close,” he said. Mr. Trejo also said that he will be attending a conference in Miami, Florida, in March related to continuing education for rac- ing veterinarians.
ALSO AT THE MEETING:
• The commission retroactively approved Sunland Park’s request to move its
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REPORT FROM APRIL 2019
The New Mexico Racing Commission held its monthly meeting in the board room at the commission offices in Albuquerque on Thursday, April 18.
New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association executive director Mary Barber gave the com- mission the NMHBA’s race-a-day report for the first 60 days of the Sunland Park meet, which opened December 28. During the first 60 days
of the Sunland meet, the track carded 229 New Mexico-bred races, 178 for Thoroughbreds and 51 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, 269 state-bred races were contested during the first 60 days of
the track’s 2017-18 season, of which 216 were for Thoroughbreds and 53 were for Quarter Horses.
An average of 3.82 New Mexico-bred races per day were run during the first 60 days of the 2018-19 Sunland Park meet, a decrease of 15 percent from the 4.48 state-bred races per day during the first 60 days of the track’s 2017-18 season.
Also, during the first 55 days of the Sunland Park meet, a total of 519 New Mexico-breds competed in open overnight races, of which 144 (102 Thoroughbreds and 42 Quarter Horses) finished first, second or third. Bonuses
totaling $95,405.90 were paid to the owners of these horses.
“Sunland has run 40 fewer New Mexico- bred races than last year, but they’re still over the average of three per day that is required,” Mrs. Barber said. “Also, worth noting is that more New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses have competed in open races there this season, and about $20,000 more has been paid in bonuses compared to last year.”
During his presentation to the NMRC, Jockeys’ Guild (www.jockeysguild.com)
50 New Mexico Horse Breeder
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