COVER 1 - NMHBA SUMMER 2017 low res

tracks to apply for all-Thoroughbred
meets for 2017-18.
Mr. Vincent also presented to the commission
a petition, which basically asked the
commission not to cut racing opportunities
for Quarter Horses next year.
One petition signer specifically
spoke against a reduction in Quarter
Horse races.
“I am not happy with the request
from the two racetracks,” the signer
stated. “The major reason the New
Mexico state legislature allowed gaming
was to support the horse-raising industry
in the state. The cutting of Quarter
Horse racing in the state is not something
that I would ever support and
should not even be considered.
“I am sure many more legislators feel
the same way and would be looking at
keeping this from happening,” the signer
added. “The racehorse industry needs
to be supported at all levels to provide
the important economic benefits to the
state and its residents. I strongly object
to the consideration of this proposal
against Quarter Horse racing in the
state of New Mexico.”
Ms. Van Bebber reminded the commission
that the AQHA sponsors the
six “integrity teams” for enforcement
during many big racing events in New
Mexico, including the All American
Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.
Also at the meeting:
• The commission approved the following
board of stewards for the Ruidoso Downs
meet, which opens May 26: Violet Smith,
Jill Cathey, and Ruben Rivera.
• The commission approved the
following board of stewards for the
Albuquerque Downs meet, which
opens June 24: Ron Walker, Martin
Hamilton, and Linda Salinas.
• The commission approved Dr. Frank
Anderson to work as the official state
veterinarian for the first week of the
Albuquerque Downs meet. Mr. Trejo
said that he will announce who will
complete the season at a later date.
• The commission approved an amending
of the SunRay Park stakes schedule to
cancel the New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes
(RG3) for state-bred 3-year-old Quarter
Horses, which was scheduled to be run
on May 12.
• The commission approved the
application of Matt Crawford to serve
as racing secretary during the Zia
Park meet, which runs September
9-December 12. The commission also
approved the amending of the closing
dates for some of the track’s stakes, as
well as the track’s stall application.
• The commission approved the jockey and
exercise rider insurance policy for Ruidoso
Downs. The premium for the policy
decreased 25 percent from 2016.
Report from June 2017 NM Racing
Commission Meeting
The New Mexico Racing Commission
held its monthly meeting at its headquarters
in Albuquerque on Thursday, June 15.
New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association
executive director Anna Fay Davis gave
the commission the race-a-day report for
the first 28 days of the SunRay Park meet,
which opened April 21. During this period,
the track carded 74 New Mexico-bred
races, 42 for Thoroughbreds and 32 for
Quarter Horses. By comparison, SunRay
Park carded 64 state-bred races -- 34 for
Thoroughbreds and 30 for Quarter Horses
during the first 28 days of its 2016 meet.
An average of 2.64 New Mexico-bred
races per day have been run during the
first 28 days of the SunRay Park meet, an
increase of 15 percent over the 2.29 statebred
races per day contested during the
first 28 days of the track’s 2016 season.
“I don’t think we’ll get the average of
New Mexico-bred races per day above 3
(at SunRay Park), but we are certainly better
than where we were during the same
period last year,” said Ms. Davis.
Also, during the first 19 days of the Sun-
Ray Park season, a total of 308 New Mexico-breds
have competed in open overnight
races, of which 106 (34 percent) finished
first, second, or third. Of this total, 50
were Thoroughbreds and 56 were Quarter
Horses. Bonuses totaling $51,523.50 were
paid to the owners of these horses.
Ms. Davis added that, during the first
28 days of its 2017 season, SunRay Park
has carded 64 New Mexico-bred overnight
races.
“There were 528 New Mexico-breds
that were scheduled to participate in these
races,” she reported. “This is an average of
8.25 New Mexico-breds per race.”
SunRay Park’s 36-day meet runs
through June 19.
Ms. Davis also gave the commission the
race-a-day report for the first eight days of
the Ruidoso Downs meet, which opened
May 26. During this period, the track
carded 32 New Mexico-bred races, 14 for
Thoroughbreds and 18 for Quarter Horses.
By comparison, Ruidoso Downs carded 28
state-bred races -- 11 for Thoroughbreds
and 17 for Quarter Horses -- during the
first eight days of its 2016 meet.
An average of 4 New Mexico-bred races
per day have been run during the first
eight days of the Ruidoso Downs meet, an
increase of 14 percent over the 3.5 statebred
races per day during the first eight
days of the track’s 2016 season.
Ms. Davis added that, during the first
eight days of its 2017 season, Ruidoso
Downs has carded 20 New Mexico-bred
overnight races.
“There were 165 New Mexico-breds
that were scheduled to participate in these
races,” she said. “This is an average of 8.25
New Mexico-breds per race.”
Ruidoso Downs’ 52-day meet runs
through Labor Day, September 4.
In addition, Ms. Davis distributed the
2017 version of the NMHBA’s marketing
brochure. The foldout brochure points out
the history of horse racing in New Mexico
and the NMHBA’s mission statement, and
it includes a membership application.
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