Note for Horsemen: NMRC meetings
Note for Horsemen
April 16, 2010
Following is update of recent NMRC Medication Committee meeting and recent NMRC public meeting.
The NMRC met on Thursday, April 15, 2010 in a public meeting.
The agenda included an update on the progress of La Mesa Park in Raton NM.
The NMRC considered the following matters: La Mesa Park’s request to amend its race dates from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 2010 (60 days) to September 3, 2010 to October 15, 2010 (25 days); La Mesa Park’s request for approval of barn contract; approval of simulcasting schedule for May 2010, approval of simulcast floor plan; mutuel manager and simulcast manager. The NMRC approved only the barn contract whereby the contractor would build 1 barn with 25 stalls for review and approval by the stake holders including the NMHA, the Breeders and the Racing Commission. All other matters were tabled to May 4 when a special session on the project will be held. Recently, the Raton Range (www.ratonrange.com) reported that the project at Raton had been “red tagged” by the State of New Mexico’s Construction Industries Division. The principals of La Mesa Park noted that their progress had been limited due to inclement weather and regulatory issues. Go to www.ratonrange.com for more information on this.
ZIA Park’s stall apps, first condition book, Purse Structure (overnight purses about $185K. with stakes included about $230K pay out per day, same as last year), was approved.
Sunland Park’s request to expend capital improvement money was approved. Sunland Park will install a new outside rail, purchase a new surface packer , harrow and water truck with the money. An 8% retroactive purse payment will be made to the owners of those horses that ran at Sunland Park from December 11, 2009 to March 6, 2010. On March 7, 2010 purses at Sunland Park were increased 8% as well. Checks with a breakdown explaining the payment should be mailed out starting next week.
2010 race meet officials and simulcast for May 2010 were approved for Ruidoso.
Sunray Park’s simulcast for May 2010 was approved.
DAA approvals included racing secretary, Jim Collins, Stakes Schedule and May simulcast Schedule. Condition book, 2010 purse schedule and stall app are pending further discussion with Horsemen.
The NMRC Medication Committee meeting met on Wednesday April 14, 2010.
Topics:
\Post death necropsies of horses, how to fund, which horses to review etc. was discussed. Mr. Payne brought up an idea to fund the necropsies through a 1$ per start fee which he would match dollar for dollar. This would generate about $17,000 at Sunland Park alone that would go toward the program. The NMHA needs to find out whether our owners would support a 1$ per start fee that would go to the funding of the program. The program in California was discussed. The California program has gone a long way to determine why horses breakdown (many had previously undiagnosed stress fractures that had not healed, in the case of sudden deaths, the majority of horses had conduction problems in the heart that were undiagnosed..) The program could be beneficial to determine the cause of death of certain race horses that die suddenly and unexpectedly in New Mexico. Contact Pat Bingham at the NMHA 505.205.6650 cell, 505.266.7056 or
binghampe@yahoo.com with any comments that you may have.
Out of competition testing was discussed. The purpose of this proposal would be to look at class I, II and III non therapeutics including growth hormones and blood builders (equigen) to determine use levels in New Mexico horses that have been taken out of competition. (Similar to the out of competition testing that goes on with Olympic and other athletes including equines.) No action was taken on this but more discussion will surely follow at future meetings. Sunland Park will probably implement a testing procedure for milkshake use in Tbs during its 2010-1011 race meet. One horse from each TB race will be selected at random for testing. More discussion on this topic will take place in the coming months. Please attend the Medication Committees when they take place. Call 505.222.0700 (NMRC) for the date and time/place of the next meeting. The Medication Committee voted to reduce the current racing level for Banamine from 1000 nanograms to 50 nanograms. The current level of 1000 nanograms is 50 times greater than the 20 nanogram level that most states follow. California and Louisiana follow the 50 nanogram level. Formal change of the rule will probably come in the next 90-120 days. The Committee also voted to reduce the racing level of Ketoprofen from 50 nanograms to 10 nanograms and a racing level for Meclofenamic acid (Arquel) (very rarely used at present as a NSAID) was eliminated from the rules. These changes will probably become effective in the next 90-120 days. A first violation of the new Banamine level when it becomes effective will result in a verbal warning. As always, please call me with any questions or comments, Pat Bingham, 505.266.7056 or 505.205.6650 cell.
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