New Mexico Horsemen's Association
Representing Horsemen Racing Across New Mexico
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Racing Commission meetings: July-December 2009

The following dates were approved for the New Mexico Racing Commission's regular meetings for the months of July through December of 2009.

Wed., July 15,                    8:30 a.m.          Executive Session
Ruidoso                              9:30 a.m.          Public Session

Wed., August 19th            8:30 a.m.              Executive Session
Sante Fe                             9:30 a.m.              Public  Session  


Thursday, Sept. 24             8:30 a.m.          Executive Session
Albuquerque                        9:30 a.m.          Public Session

Thursday, Oct. 29                8:30 a.m.              Executive Session
Hobbs                                   9:30 a.m.              Public  Session  


Thursday Nov. 19                8:30 a.m.          Executive Session
Albuquerque                        9:30 a.m.          Public Session




 
                  

Race Dates and Raton Updates

The Horsemen attended the NMRC meeting in Raton yesterday, June 24th. The groundbreaking was a success, due to the excellent crowds, as well as the attendance of Governor Bill Richardson.The Governor commended all involved in efforts to approve and construct the new Racetrack in Raton.

Race Dates were tabled until the next meeting, which will be held on July 15th in Ruidoso.

NMHA 2009 Ruidoso Downs Phone List

NMHA 2009 Ruidoso Downs PhoneList

 

Trainers

 

Bobby Crenshaw

PO Box 882

Carrizozo, NM 88301

Home: 575-648-4243

 

Jeff Hudson

7643 HWY 54/70

Tularosa, NM 88352

Cell: 575-921-9386

 

Gerald Marr

PO Box 41

Tularosa, NM, 88352

 

Randy Schalla

PO Box 365

Tularosa, NM 88352

 

Owners

 

Dan Hardisty

Box 1093

Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346

Home: 575-378-8376

Cell: 915-497-2445

 

Orlando Montes

PO Box 56

Glencoe, NM 88324

Home: 575-378-5406

Cell: 575-937-5165

 

Freda McSwane

1803 Sudderth

Ruidoso, NM 88345

Home: 575-336-7666

Office: 575-257-1515

Cell: 575-937-2453

 

Connie Snyder

395 Cedar Creek Road

Greenville, NM 88424

Home: 575-207-7082

Cell: 575-447-2898

Open Letter to the Governor

The NMHA sent the following letter to Governor Bill Richardson, The NM Racing Commision, and the entirety of the NM Legislature on Monday, June 22.




New Mexico Horsemen’s Association

217 Palomas, NE

Albuquerque, NM  87108

505.266.7056

505.266.0643 (Fax)

 

 

 

 

June 22, 2009

 

 

OPEN LETTER TO:

 

GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON

Office of the Governor

State Capitol Building, Suite 400

Santa Fe, NM  87503

 

Re: Horseracing Dates for 2010

 

Honorable Governor Richardson:

 

Three New Mexico Racetracks have proposed a significant cut to their race days for 2010 over 2009.  The tracks are: The Downs at Albuquerque, which is proposing a race date cut of 15 days from the days that they will run in 2009 (42 in 2009 to 27 in 2010); Ruidoso Downs, which is proposing to cut 14 days from days to be run this year to those proposed for 2010 (63 in 2009 to 49 in 2010) and ZIA Park which is proposing to run 4 less days than they are scheduled to run in 2009 (57 in 2009 to 54 in 2010).

 

A total cut of 33 days from the races dates calendared for 2009 has been proposed by the tracks for 2010. If these race day cuts are granted by the New Mexico Racing Commission there will be approximately 330 fewer races run in 2010 than in 2009. This will mean a reduction of 3,300 horse starts in 2010 as opposed to 2009.  These drastic cuts in race days (amounting to more than a 10% reduction of the racing calendar in 2009) will severely impact our owners, trainers, their employees and the thousands of folks based in New Mexico who depend on racing in New Mexico to make a living. In addition, the race date cuts, if approved, will negatively impact tourism in this state as well as the state’s bottom line, as less para-mutual and other taxes will be generated as a result.  Indeed, even the vaunted quarter horse Triple Crown series that is run annually at Ruidoso Downs may be negatively impacted by the severely shortened race meet that has been proposed.  

 

The race tracks that have requested the race date cuts will be the sole beneficiaries from the proposed reduction of race dates as they will save money against their bottom line by shortening their race meet. These savings will, however, be quickly offset by the negative impact on the Horsemen and others who work at the tracks and in the communities where the race tracks are located. In those communities, horse feed, bedding, vet supplies and services, gasoline, diesel and other supplies and necessities are purchased in large quantities.

 

In sum, there will be few winners- the owners of the three racetracks who have requested less days for 2010-and many losers, including the Horsemen who race in New Mexico.

 

In 2007 at the Legislative Finance Committee meeting held in Ruidoso,  the Honorable Representative Ben Lujan informed the audience present that the reason that gaming at racetracks was passed in New Mexico was to ensure that a vital part of the State’s economy and heritage, namely the racing and breeding of race horses, would not become extinct.  Cutting race dates diminishes the industries of horse racing and horse breeding in New Mexico. We ask that you and the New Mexico Racing Commission consider this letter favorably, as the Commission acts on the requests of the race tracks for race date cuts in 2010.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Pat Bingham

Executive Director, New Mexico Horsemen’s Association

 

Cc: New Mexico Racing Commission

 

      Legislators of the State Of New Mexico

 


All Aboard!

On Wednesday, June 24th, a bus will be leaving from the NMHA Main office at 217 Palomas NE in Albuquerque at 6:15 am to take Horsemen to the Racing Commission meeting and groundbreaking at Raton. The bus is free of charge. To reserve a seat, call the Horsemen's office at 505 266 7056. There are about twenty seats available.


Urgent Notice For Horsemen

*Important

In response to the request of Ruidoso Downs, Zia Park, and the Downs at Albuquerque to cut 2010 race dates, the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association is asking for your support to help prevent those cuts from being approved. Both owners and trainers, among other involved parties including the horse breeders, rely on live races in order to make an income. A reduction in the number of race days from 2009 would be economically detrimental to all involved. We therefore ask that you contact your legislators (follow this link to find your district’s legislature) and Governor Bill Richardson,  in order to inform them that you are opposed to a reduction in race dates.

 

Note: This is urgent, as 2010 race dates are on the calendar to be approved on June 25th.

 

We thank you for your support in this urgent matter. For more information, call the NMHA at 505-266-7056, or email us at nmhastate1@aol.com.

NMRC Meeting Update

The NMRC will meet for its regular monthly meeting on June 24th in Raton. The meeting will be held at Raton's City hall, 224 Savage Rd. Executive Session will commence at 8:30, and the open public session will begin at 9:30. All horsemen are invited and encouraged to attend.

NMHA Track Committee: Ruidoso Downs

The results of the 2009 elections for the Ruidoso Downs Track Committee are as follows:

Trainers

Bobby Crenshaw
Jeff Hudson
Gerald Marr
Randy Schalla

Owners

Dan Hardisty
Orlando Montes
Fredda McSwane
Connie Snyder

Congratulations and thank you to the new Track Committee members.

Congratulations to Raton!

Horse Racing at Raton L.P. received it's license for gaming. Its owner, Michael Modlenhauer, also received findings of suitability for the project from the Gaming Control Board.


Mark Correra has withdrawn from the application in order to focus on other business opportunities. The approval comes with several conditions, including the condition that unconditional funding must be in place, as well as a property manager, within thirty days from today


Congratulations on the Approval and Best Wishes to Raton!

Congrats!

Congratulations to trainer and New Mexico Horsemen Chip Woolley and the connections of Mine That Bird for a third place finish in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York. Mr. Woolley trained thoroughbred Mine that Bird for owners Mark Allen (Double Eagle Ranch of Roswell, N.M) and Dr. Leonard Blach (Buena Suerte Equine in Roswell) to a Kentucky Derby victory on May 2nd. Mine That Bird was defeated by long shot Summer Bird and the returning Dunkirk.

    Mine That Bird was ridden by Jockey Calvin Borel and was bred by Lamantia, Blackburn & Needham/Betz Thoroughbreds in Kentucky. 

To see Mine That Bird win the Kentucky Derby, follow the link!
sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown09/news/story?id=4128286

To see the Preakness Stakes, go here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gONkLlsu8Z8

To See the Belmont Stakes, go here: http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=udUIxsuWE3w   

Once again, Congratulations to Chip Woolley and all the connections of Mine That Bird!

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