Page 63 - New Mexico Winter 2021

REPORT FROM OCTOBER 2021
NM RACING COMMISSION MEETING
The New Mexico Racing Commission held its monthly meeting in the board room at the commission offices in Albuquerque on Thursday, October 14.
New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association executive director Mary Barber gave the commission the NMHBA’s race-a-day report for the 46-day Ruidoso Downs meet, which ended September 6. During the Ruidoso meet, the track carded 159 New Mexico-
bred races, 73 for Thoroughbreds and 86 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, 175 state- bred races were contested during the track’s 2020 season, which ran 50 days. Of those 175 state-bred races, 85 were for Thoroughbreds and 90 were for Quarter Horses.
An average of 3.46 New Mexico-bred races per day were run during the 2021 Ruidoso Downs meet, a slight decrease from the 3.50 state-bred races per day run during the track’s 2020 season.
Also during the 2021 Ruidoso Downs meet, a total of 473 New Mexico-breds competed in open overnight races, of which 155 (85 Thoroughbreds and 70 Quarter Horses) finished first, second or third. Bonuses totaling $115,452.60 were paid to the owners of these horses.
Ms. Barber also gave the commission the NMHBA’s race-a-day report for the 26-day Downs at Albuquerque meet, which ended September 19. During the Albuquerque meet, the track carded 101 New Mexico-bred races, 59 for Thoroughbreds and 44 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, 86 state-bred races were contested during the track’s 2020 season, which also ran 26 days. Of those 86 state-bred races, 55 were for Thoroughbreds and 31 were for Quarter Horses.
Adrienne La Jean Tedford December 22, 1935 ~ July 29, 2021
Adrienne La Jean Tedford, 86, peacefully went to be with the Lord on July 29, 2021 in her home in Alamogordo, NM. Adrienne was born on December 22, 1935 in Rankin, Tx to Risdon Ardon and Edith Marie McDaniel. She was a bookkeeper, wife, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great- great grandmother.
Survivors include her children, Sherry Cox and husband Terry, DeAdra Smith
An average of 3.87 New Mexico-
bred races were run during the Downs at Albuquerque’s 2021 meet, an increase of 16-percent over the 3.31 state-bred races per day run during the track’s 2020 season.
Also during the Albuquerque meet, a total of 370 New Mexico-breds competed in open overnight races, of which 108 (56 Thoroughbreds and 52 Quarter Horses) finished first, second, or third. Bonuses totaling $141,994.40 were paid to the owners of these horses.
NMRC chairman Sam Bregman introduced new commissioner Margaret Branch. An Albuquerque attorney with a particular interest in women’s health issues, Ms. Branch is the managing partner of the Branch Law Firm. She is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and International Women’s Forum, and she serves on the board of directors of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Bregman also reported that he
had been contacted by several concerned stakeholders about the conditions at Zia Park, and he added that he traveled to Hobbs to check them out himself. He said that he met with a couple of people who showed him around and pointed out some of the more concerning conditions.
Mr. Bregman said that he met with Zia Park general manager Bill Belcher to discuss these conditions and to let him know that they were unacceptable. Mr. Belcher took responsibility for the conditions, and a week later, things had been cleaned up; among other things, the horse path had been fixed.
and husband Kenneth, Gary Tedford and wife Peggy; granddaughters, Christina Cox, Jennifer Sides and husband Ken, and Jessica Smith; 5 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Arden Sue Floyd and LaWanda Lee; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, and her great-granddaughter, Mia Alexis-Marie Kritis.
There are no services scheduled at this time.
The Tedford family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home.
Mr. Bregman noted that these poor conditions were reported in national publications, including Paulick Report (“New Mexico Horsemen Frustrated as Zia Park Fails to Open for Training as Scheduled,” dated September 15, 2021), and that they gave New Mexico racing a black eye.
During his report to the commission, NMRC executive director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo said that the commission office is almost
fully staffed now. The commission hired a purchasing agent and hired Armando Munoz to be the commission’s accountant and auditor.
“We’ve had some IT problems for the last couple of months, but they are almost fixed,” Mr. Trejo acknowledged. “Once these issues are fixed, our operations will be more efficient.”
Mr. Trejo also reported that Zia Park’s purses have increased over 2020 and things are improving there. He also reported
that The Downs at Albuquerque would
be hosting the AQHA/Bank of America Challenge Championships on October 23 for the third consecutive year.
Also at the meeting:
• *Downs at Albuquerque president of racing Don Cook received retroactive approval
to replace Dr. Robert Schwyzer as track veterinarian with Dr. John Snyder for September 14-19. Mr. Cook also received retroactive approval to run 11 races on September 19, and he received approval
to increase the added money for the 2022 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) from $160,000 to $250,000. Of the added $90,000, $45,000 will come from the track and $45,000 from the breeders.
IN MEMORIAM
MEETING TIME
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