Page 27 - NMHBA Summer 2017

The Ever-Loved Horse Racing Industry
Needs Your Help!
A Letter from the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association
The business of horse racing Nationwide and in New Mexico is at a crossroads. As you may know, money from slot machines located in casinos at each of the 5 New Mexico racetracks has resulted in dramatic increases to purses. However, for the past 20 years there has been a steady reduction of both new owners and participants, as well as a declining fan base attending live racing.
There are several reasons for
this, including recession in certain entrepreneurial industries and the numerous other competing forms of entertainment reducing available fans. These competing forms of entertainment include the massive proliferation of gaming at Native American casinos, sports betting, new sports evolving, and the ever-present use of video games and social media by the younger generations.
We here at the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association acknowledge that competition for fans has made growth of the sport and business of horseracing more difficult. The Downs at Albuquerque and Sunland Park
Racetrack have made improvements that will allow fans to bet on live races using their smart phones & tablets. Adapting to modern day trends as such, is critical in keeping the participation of our fan base up. We as horsemen applaud these efforts, but we also realize more must be done to save the industry.
In addition to attracting new
fans, we must attract new owners to our sport. Now more than ever, the increase in emerging technologies and social media has our industry under the constant scrutiny
of the public eye. As current participants, we must use the highest ethics while racing our horses to keep a positive perspective on the sport itself. It is no longer status quo or ethical to use medications to get our horses to perform. We all need to act as ambassadors for the sport and endeavor to introduce and educate the public, as well as newcomers, about the sport of horse racing and ownership of horses.
While traditional marketing and advertising may continue to have a positive
effect
on improving
participation
in our sport, we
need to embrace
the newly emerging
technologies that permit access to the sport remotely and find ways to develop an increasing fan and ownership base.
Our sport’s very existence depends on us coming together as an industry and taking this challenge seriously. That’s why we need your help, we want to hear from you!
New Mexico Horsemen’s Association
217 Palomas, NE • Albuquerque, NM 87108 • (505) 266-7056 www.newmexicohorsemen.com • email: nmhastate1@aol.com
Briefly, about us:
The New Mexico Horsemen’s Association is made up of 5000 licensed owners and race horse trainers. The Association was formed in 1966 to represent horsemen in their dealings with the racetracks, the New Mexico Racing Commission, the New Mexico State Legislature, and to further the interest of folks in the sport and the business of horseracing. The forward-thinking horsemen who created the Association wanted all facets of the industry, including the breeding of horses,
to grow and flourish. It has done so, especially with the advent of slot gaming which is permitted at each of the state’s 5 racetracks. We are a 503 c 4 not for profit entity.
For more information please contact New Mexico Horsemen’s Association, 217 Palomas,
NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87108, Phone: 505.266.7056 Larry Strain, President, of the NMHA, Pat Bingham, Executive Director, or visit our website at www.newmexicohorsemen.com.
SUMMER 2017 25
Send us your ideas on how the sport of horse racing and participation in the sport as owner or fan can be made more attractive.
Don’t worry about whether an approach will work, just present your ideas no matter how outside the box they may be.