Page 72 - Winter 2020

“Then COVID hit us. It made no business sense to have 51 horses in training, with staggering expenses. We made up our minds to sell all 51 through an on-line sale company. I was emotional about it at first but I wrapped my mind around it and accepted it for what it was – a sound business decision.”
- Sandra McKenna
In 2004, the McKennas headed for Ken- tucky, where they bought 17 Kentucky-breds. Then, in 2006, they purchased a stallion. In 17 years, they rose through the ranks to become two of the most recognized names in New Mexico’s TB racing word, named leading owners a number of times. Until just recently, they had an astounding 51 horses in training.
“We treated it strictly as a business,” said Sandra. Then she admitted, “Of course, there can’t help but be some emotional involvement when you’re dealing with horses, especially those you’ve bred and raised.
“Then COVID hit us. It made no business sense to have 51 horses in training, with stag- gering expenses. We made up our minds to sell all 51 through an on-line sale company. I was emotional about it at first but I wrapped my mind around it and accepted it for what it was – a sound business decision. It also made me feel better knowing they all went to good places, with eight of them racing just recently. We’ll continue to keep up with them at the track.”
Before you feel badly about the situa- tion, however, realize that Tom and Sandra are not out of the industry. They’re staying in the breeding with their own breeding facility, mares and stallion.
“We have 30 broodmares,” explained San- dra. “We used to breed strictly to race, very seldom selling any of our babies. Now, we’ll begin selling.
“I’m sure we’ll never be completely out of the racing part of the industry. We still have two two-year-olds, but we’ll never be big play- ers again. We were leading owners for several years and made countless friends. We had good horses and we took excellent care of them.
“We have a rehab facility and we kept an eye on all the horses. They came off the track for rehab at the first sign of a problem, and they all came home every summer for a six week vaca- tion. One of our horses set a new track record at Zia last year. He was 12-years-old and I feel that tells the story of how we cared for them. Oh! We also have 30 retired race horses!”
The McKennas lived in New Mexico during the 1980s but then relocated. Tom began re- searching when the horses came into their lives, determining that New Mexico had one of the better racing programs. So, they moved back.
One of the critical elements helping them build their success story was, according to Sandra, Tom’s consistent horseman’s eye. “It’s uncanny,” she said. “He can look at a horse and know if he’ll be a winner. Of course, Tom’s been
involved for a very long time. He was riding lap and tap when he was 12 years old. He also kept detailed spreadsheets on every horse in training.
“Yes. Selling 51 horses was a drastic move but, I assure you, nothing is over!”
MARK AND ANNETTE MCCLOY
Mark and Annette keep seven broodmares, five Quarters and two Thoroughbreds. They left two in Oklahoma this year for Oklahoma-breds.
“This has affected all of us,” said Mark. “Purses have been destroyed and we had fewer race days. It’ll take at least a year to recover, provided we get the casinos open and nothing else happens.”
“For us,” said Annette, “we’ll continue breeding New Mexico-breds. It’s been a very good program that’s gotten even better over the last few years. There’s going to be an end to COVID, just like we’ve put an end to other diseases. It’s up to us to figure out how to make things work until the turn-around comes. And it will come,”
“The breeding and selling part of the business had already changed before COVID,” said Mark. “For one thing, it’s clear that mediocre mares will not work in the sale ring, whether it’s the mare or her baby led around. There’s always been a market for quality horses and that market will continue.”
“For us, we’ll continue breeding New Mexico-breds. It’s been a very good program that’s gotten even better over the last few years. There’s going to be an end to COVID, just like we’ve put an end to other diseases. It’s up to us to figure out how to make things work until the turn-around comes.”
- Annette McCloy
70 New Mexico Horse Breeder