NM Racing Commission Meeting January 22, 2009
The Racing Commission approved the racing license for Racing at Raton. Racing at Raton will race 60 days commencing Memorial day and ending Labor day, 2010. Purses are expected to be in the $135,000 range for overnights. No stakes schedule was disclosed.
In connection with the granting of the license the NMRC created a committee to oversee the construction effort. The committee will have the same status as the Rules Committee and the Medication Committee will be made up of Horsemen, Breeders, two racing commissioners and the Racing at Raton management. The goal is make sure that the entire operation is ready for racing come May, 2010. Racing at Raton is currently awaiting approval from the Gaming Control Board on its gaming license.
The condition book for Farmington was approved as were preliminary non racing officials. The Breeder’s supplement on NM Bred races is going up from $2,000 a race to $3,500 per race. Sunray has agreed to run 10 races a day over its 44 day race meet. Purses will be about $135,000 per day including stakes. NOTE STALL APPLICATIONS FOR FARMINGTON ARE DUE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2009. MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR STALL APPS IN ON TIME.
A discussion took place about the need for each track to ensure that its race track surface is race ready before any horses gallop over it. This will be further discussed at the NMRC special meeting that will take place on Monday, January 26, 2009 at Sunland Park. We the Horsemen must ensure that each track is in its best possible condition before any horse travels over it. This means that some of our tracks will need to renovate their tracks earlier to ensure that they are fit to race and work over .
The Commission approved the preliminary condition book for Ruidoso, the Ruidoso stakes schedule and Stall App. Ruidoso will start the meet at the same purse level as last year. Breed supplement will be $1,200 per race as in 2008. The ZIA day of races will have a minor purse cut with reach race running at $50,000 per race instead of the $55,000 that applied in 2008. $30,000 of the money will come from the Breeders Fund and $20,000 will come from the Horsemen’s Purse Fund. The $5,000 per race (a total of $25,000) will serve as cushion given the uncertainty of the current economic climate.
Ruidoso stall apps will be out very shortly.
On Monday, January 26, 2009 there is a special called NMRC meeting at Sunland Park. The meeting which will take place in the Signature Room will start at 11:00 AM. Among the topics of discussion are post race testing in New Mexico, the process start to finish; the need for readying of race tracks before horses arrive to ensure that the best racing surface possible is achieved; procedures to ensure that a track is maintained and renovated throughout the meet’; the jockeys’ request for an increase to jock mount fees; due process and the stay procedure used by the NMRC as well other important topics.
Horsemen please attend this important meeting and participate. Not attending and participating at this meeting should not be an option.
Questions, please call Pat Bingham at 505.266.7056 or cell phone, 505.205.6650. E-mail is binghampe@yahoo.com.
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