A LETTER FOR ALL NEW MEXICO HORSEMEN
Greetings and best wishes to
all Horsemen.
As you know since the coming of gaming, slot machine revenue earmarked for purses in
many states including New Mexico has been a great positive to our industry. Without the slots at our 5 racetracks
the purses in New Mexico would be just a
fraction of what they are today. Who
would have thought 10 years ago when the race tracks and horsemen in New Mexico
were struggling to exist as an industry that the money from gaming would have
such a positive impact on our purses and our industry as a whole.
Since the coming of
gaming there appears to be a trend at some tracks nationwide to
emphasize gaming over horse racing. The
result is to emphasize the money that is brought in through the machines over
the economic benefit of live racing. As
a result, racing is minimized and the costs associated with racing are
magnified. What is forgotten in all this is the fact that NM and other states passed gaming laws
because of horse racing. The legislature in New Mexico and other
states passed the laws that permitted
slots at racetracks in recognition
of a need to help the agricultural
economy (hay and other feed, supplies, brood mares, stallions, farms, racing
horses etc., ) that is part and parcel to the horse racing industry. In their deliberations, the legislatures were
very clear that the purpose of gaming was to support the horse racing industry
and to assist the folks who race and breed horses as well as those who were
willing to take the risk of operating a racetrack. Essentially the legislature in New Mexico
created an equal partnership between the Horsemen, the Breeders and track
management so that each could survive and thrive in our important industry.
This fact is becoming
lost on some racetracks across the county including New Mexico as more and more track
operators view the horse racing side of their business as an economic
afterthought and an expense.
Last year, the NMHA examined
the economic impact of horse racing on
our state. We found that our owners and trainers spend more than $75
million dollars per year training horses for racing in New Mexico. In real economic terms with the turn over of
money our impact on the state may be as large as $300 million dollars per
year. This number does not include what
is spent in the state by the horse Breeder’s.
Simply said, our economic impact on the State of New Mexico and the
cities where racing is held is great. In
this regard we are comfortable is saying that we have a greater economic impact
on the state than the Junior Arabian Horseshow (held at the DAA) and the
National Junior Rodeo (held at Sunray Park) combined. We are proud of our sport and encourage our
members to be proud of our sport as well.
Presently the Horsemen
Association is in a dispute with Sunray Park over certain matters. As a result there has been no out of state
simulcasting over the past several days.
The Horsemen has attempted to seek the track’s agreement over several
items that would benefit all concerned.
Among the items that have been advanced by the Horsemen is a replay
booth where Horsemen can view their races the same day that they occur, further assurances that the track will be
maintained to its safest possible condition and an agreement that the Sunray
will not discriminate or retaliate against Horsemen who raise legitimate
concerns over track safety or backside conditions. Each of the proposals that
have been raised are reasonable and appropriate. To date Sunray Park has
refused to agree to any of these legitimate concerns. The Horsemen remain open to any dialogue that
will resolve these concerns.
As an organization we will
continue to press for an equal economic partnership with our racetracks
throughout the state. A partnership
where horse racing is placed at the forefront of the business and dealt with fairly.
As always, the NMHA is here
to support and advance horse racing in New Mexico. If you have any questions about this letter,
please call me at 915.474.3580.
Good luck and good racing!!!!
Sincerely,
Terry Walker, President, New
Mexico Horsemen’s Association
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