The New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association will hold its annual business meeting and Zia Awards banquet on January 28 at the Marriott Hotel in Albuquerque.

Longtime horse racing TV analyst Chris Lincoln will emcee the awards banquet, which will also feature an appearance by the New Mexico-based owners of 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird, Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach of Roswell, and jockey Calvin Borel.

A total of 24 trophies – 12 for Thoroughbreds and 12 for Quarter Horses – will be presented to honor champion New Mexico-bred horses. Also, William T. Stradley of Hobbs, the breeder of six-time state-bred stakes winner Gulchrunssweet, will be honored with the Julep Cup award, which will be presented by Blood-Horse magazine advertising rep Shirley Dievert. A 9-year-old gelding by Dry Gulch, Gulchrunssweet has earned $821,288 from 62 starts, and his 20 wins include last year’s $177,115 New Mexico Cup Sprint Championship (R) at Zia Park.

The top New Mexico-based freshman Thoroughbred sire will be honored with an award presented by Marie Perdue, the regional ad rep for Thoroughbred Times.

The banquet will begin with a no-host cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

The NMHBA business meeting’s agenda will include the announcement of dates for this year’s New Mexico-bred Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearling sales in Ruidoso Downs, and the election of the association’s 12 trustees. The trustees each serve two-year terms.

The meeting will also include a presentation by veterinarian and NMHBA board member Dr. Kay Thurman on the association’s equine piroplasmosis testing requirements, as well as a presentation by New Mexico Livestock Board veterinarian Dr. Dave Fly on the steps the board is taking to combat the disease.

The Marriott Hotel is located at 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. For more information on the meeting and banquet, contact the NMHBA at (505) 262-0224.