Page 72 - New Mexico Horse Breeders 2019 Stallion Register

At one time or another, almost everyone has heard an actor recount the career disadvantages of being type-cast in a certain kind of role; fearful of being locked into that persona in movie after movie.
Remember Walter Matthau? He was never the romantic, leading man kind of guy. Frankly speaking, he just wasn’t handsome enough. Never, even in his younger days, was he swoon- worthy material. He stood 6’ 2”, making him more than seven inches taller than the average actor. Individuals such as Paul Newman literally looked up at Matthau, but it was Newman and his “bedroom eyes” who always took the lady home for the evening.
Matthau’s jowls hung heavier as he aged.
His eyebrows grew shaggier and bushier. His already thin lips pulled even tighter and his 6’ 2” frame began looking burdensome, drooping and bending under the weight of his broad shoulders.
Soon.....more often than not.....Matthau succumbed to type-casting. He fit perfectly into the mold of an irascible, curmudgeon with a stubble of beard blanketing his stretched jowls. A perfect, made-to-order old fart for movies such as Grumpy Old Men.
New Mexico has spent far too many years in a type-cast role in the racing industry. The state, both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, has labored in the non-Oscar-winning character of the Redheaded Stepchild for longer than anyone
cares to admit. But now, after a list of intense auditions, the state is ready to break out into the spotlight in almost every front.
Sale results are up. Number of out-of-state mares visiting the courts of New Mexico stallions
is up. Breeding numbers are up. Positive drug test numbers are down. Handle and purses are up. Even individual recognition is moving into the limelight.
So, while many other states are either stagnant or even regressive, New Mexico is bustling with a special excitement that says the Redheaded Stepchild may be more than ready to change into the golden gown of a lovely leading lady. The red carpet awaits!
Let’s look at the picture piece-by-piece.
THE RACETRACKS
Ruidoso Downs is the historic flag ship for the community of New Mexico racetracks. She’s always been the center diamond and, in 2018, she received a lot of extra spit and shine.
It was the first year under new ownership.... under new management....under new policies....under the beginning of new traditions....under new investment decisions.
And how did all that new work out? Pretty damn well!
Different industries with their different
products use different yardsticks to measure their success (or failure) quotients. With
racetracks, the most glaring evidence rests in handle. Going up is a good thing. Going up a LOT is a very good thing.
Going down....well....that’s not really open for discussion. Besides, there’s no reason for discussion since Ruidoso was miles away from that possibility in 2018.
There were 47-days of racing in this year’s season, compared to 52-days last year. In this particular situation, less definitely equaled more, with $24.6-million handled this year compared to $24.0-million in 2017. That equals a 9.9-percent increase.
On-track handle improved 4-percent to $10.2-million and the total, out-of-state handle on racing at Ruidoso Downs was $12.3-million for a 23.6-percent increase.
Daily average handle climbed by 25-percent, with $499,981 in greenbacks sliding softly into the tellers’ hands on each day’s program. Even Billy the Kid Casino marched up the ladder by 8-percent. There were green lights on everything and
it all came together to produce one of the most successful meets in the track’s long and storied history. Purses increased 10-percent in just the second week of racing. Because of the fattened purse revenues, $90,000 in added stakes and overnight races found their way to the horsemen during the last several weeks of the season.
There were also physical improvements in the track facilities, including a new roof on the
70 New Mexico Horse Breeder