The New Mexico Racing Commission held its monthly meeting at its headquarters in Albuquerque on April 14.

The meeting was led by the commission's new chairman, Robert Doughty. An attorney based in Albuquerque, Doughty was elected to the post before the start of the meeting's public session.

Also, Beverly Bourguet of Albuquerque was elected to the post of vice chair.

New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association executive director Anna Fay Davis gave the commission her race-a-day reports for Sunland Park through April 10. During the first 72 days of its meet, the track ran 404 New Mexico-bred races – 279 for Thoroughbreds and 125 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, Sunland Park also carded 400 state-bred races during the first 73 days of its 2009-10 meet, 271 for Thoroughbreds and 129 for Quarter Horses.

Also, during the first 64 days of Sunland Park's current meet, a total of 296 New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses ran in open overnight races, of which 77 (26 percent) finished first, second, or third. Of this total, 68 were Quarter Horses and nine were Thoroughbreds. Bonuses totaling $99,818.20 were paid to the owners of these horses.

By comparison, a total of 334 state-breds competed in open races during the first 64 days of Sunland's 2009-10 season, of which 83 (25 percent) ran first, second, or third. Of this total, eight were Thoroughbreds and 75 were Quarter Horses, and bonuses totaling $577,607.20 were paid to the owners of these horses.

Also at the meeting, commission executive India Hatch and commissioner Gayla McCulloch reported on the recent SunRay Park safety meeting, which both attended. The meeting was also attended by New Mexico Horsemens' Association executive director Jack McGrail and track management, including track superintendent Jose “Nacho” Lopez, and track consultant Steve Wood.

“We discussed several issues, including the decline in the number of horses that have had to be euthanized recently,” McCulloch said. “The track crew is still working on the track, and I think they're still on schedule.”

Located in Farmington, SunRay Park's 48-day meet opens April 23 and runs on a Saturday-Tuesday schedule through July 12.
Talking about the safety meeting, McGrail referred to it as productive.

“The track is going to have sand, gypsum, and bark on-site, and we're happy about that because they'll have easy access to these materials as the meet progresses and won't have to ship them in,” McGrail added. “We're also pleased that management is going to allow horsemen to stay on the grounds until August 5. This is important, because a lot of horsemen don't have anywhere to go from the close of the SunRay meet to the opening of the Albuquerque meet.”

During his monthly report to the commission, McGrail said that he met with Zia Park management, including general manager Brent Willits and director of racing Rick Baugh, on April 8.

“We discussed several issues, including the simulcast facility and spectator seating, but of course the condition of the track surface is our overriding concern,” he said. “The track is going to buy a new water truck and all of its own track maintenance equipment, so it will no longer have to be shared with Ruidoso Downs., and we're pleased about this.

“We're convinced that management is committing the resources necessary to achieve the goal of track surface safety,” McGrail added. “We're hopeful we can get the track in the shape we want it in, and the reason we're having these meetings in April is so we can get in front of the issue. We can't start the process in September when the meet starts in September. Our goal is to get the track tested before the meet starts.”

Also, the commission approved the appointment of Jim “Red” Davis to the position of paddock judge at SunRay Park, and it approved Ed L'Ecuyer, David Keiter, and Kenneth Hart, as the board of stewards, and Dr. Jess Unruh as the state veterinarian, for the 2011 Ruidoso Downs meet, which runs May 27-September 5.

The commission also approved The Downs at Albuquerque's request to change its weekly racing schedule from Friday-Monday to Friday-Sunday and Wednesday. Thus, there will be no Monday racing at the track throughout its meet, with the exception of Labor Day, September 5.

The commission also approved The Downs at Albuquerque's stakes schedule, which this year will include the first running of the 220-yard, $10,000-added Zoom Zoom Zoom Stakes. Track management expects the purse to reach $100,000, of which 80 percent will go to the owner of the winner.

The next commission meeting will be held on Thursday, May 12, at commission headquarters in Albuquerque. For more information, contact the commission at (505) 222-0700, or visit its website at www.nmrc.state.nm.us.