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

The meeting was chaired by interim chairman Ray Willis of Roswell, and it was the first meeting attended by the four new commissioners recently appointed by new governor Susana Martinez – Beverly Bourguet of Albuquerque, Jerald G. Cosper of Los Lunas, Robert M. Doughty III of Albuquerque, and Gayla McCulloch of Farmington.

Willis is the only commissioner who was retained by Gov. Martinez, who took office on January 1. The new commissioners replace chairwoman Marty Cope of Hobbs, who resigned in January, Arnold Rael of Rio Rancho, Thomas “Eddie” Fowler of Ruidoso, and Larry Delgado of Santa Fe.

A racehorse owner with bachelor's and master's degrees from New Mexico State University, Bourguet is director of the Northern New Mexico chapter of the United States Tennis Association. She also has pioneered youth tennis programs in Albuquerque and runs a program for at-risk youth in Barelas.

Cosper is the owner of Arrow Animal Hospital in Los Lunas. A former associate veterinarian at Village Veterinary Hospital in Bosque Farms, Cosper also has worked at Ruidoso Downs assisting in medication administration. He has a bachelor's degree in animal science from NMSU, and he is a graduate of Colorado State University's veterinary school.

Doughty is a practicing attorney and a shareholder with Doughty & West P.A. A specialist in personal injury law and insurance defense, Doughty earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from NMSU and his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

A past president of the New Mexico Quarter Horse Association and an AQHA director, McCullouch has extensive experience with horses and the racing industry, and she is affiliated with the family-owned Drake Running Horse Ranch and McCulloch Ranch. She currently serves on the Farmington City Council, and she earned a bachelor's degree in business and marketing at NMSU.

New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association executive director Anna Fay Davis gave the commission her race-a-day reports for Sunland Park through March 20. During the first 60 days of the meet, which runs through April 19, the track ran 332 New Mexico-bred races – 230 for Thoroughbreds and 102 for Quarter Horses. By comparison, Sunland Park also carded 308 state-bred races during the first 57 days of its 2009-10 meet, 207 for Thoroughbreds and 101 for Quarter Horses.

Also, during the first 48 days of Sunland Park's current meet, a total of 232 New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses ran in open overnight races, of which 61 (27 percent) finished first, second, or third. Of this total, 54 were Quarter Horses and seven were Thoroughbreds. Bonuses totaling $80,464.80 were paid to the owners of these horses.

By comparison, a total of 248 state-breds competed in open races during the first 48 days of Sunland's 2009-10 season, of which 66 (27 percent) ran first, second, or third. Of this total, seven were Thoroughbreds and 59 were Quarter Horses, and bonuses totaling $53,215.60 were paid to the owners of these horses.

Also at the meeting, it was announced by New Mexico Horsemen's Association executive director Jack McGrail and Jockeys' Guild representatives John Beech and Mindy Coleman, that an agreement has been reached on a fee schedule for the state's jockeys.

The following fees will go into effect on April 8:

For races with purses up to and including $4,999, jockeys on winning mounts will receive 10 percent of the winner's share of the purse, followed by $70 (second-place mount), $60 (third-place), $58 (fourth-place), and $50 (unplaced).

For races with purses from $5,000-$9,999, jockeys on winning mounts will earn 10% of the winner's share of the purse, followed by $80 (second-place), $65 (third-place), $63 (fourth-place), and $55 (unplaced).

For races with purses from $10,000-$14,999, jockeys on winning mounts will receive 10 percent of the winner's share of the purse, followed by 5 percent of the place portion of the purse (second-place), $75 (third-place), $68 (fourth-place), and $60 (unplaced).

For races with purses from $15,000-$24,999, jockeys on winning mounts will earn 10 percent of the winner's share of the purse, followed by 5 percent of the place portion of the purse (second-place), 5 percent of the show portion of the purse (third-place), $75 (fourth-place), and $70 (unplaced).

For races with purses of $25,000-$49,999, jockeys on winning mounts will earn 10 percent of the winner's share of the purse, followed by 5 percent of the place portion of the purse (second-place), 5 percent of the show portion of the purse (third-place), $80 (fourth-place), and $75 (unplaced).

For races with purses of $50,000-$99,999, jockeys on winning mounts will earn 10 percent of the winner's share of the purse, followed by 5 percent of the place portion of the purse (second-place), 5 percent of the show portion of the purse (third-place), 5 percent of the fourth-place portion of the purse (fourth-place), and $80 (unplaced).

For races with purses of $100,000 and up, jockeys on winning mounts will earn 10 percent of the winner's share of the purse, followed by 5 percent of the place portion of the purse (second-place), 5 percent of the show portion of the purse (third-place), 5 percent of the fourth-place portion of the purse (fourth-place), and $110 (unplaced).

The agreement was reached after 2 ½ years of negotiations between the NMHA and Jockeys' Guild.

“We're happy to announce that this issue has finally been settled,” said McGrail.

McGrail also announced that the annual NMHA Awards Banquet will be held at SunRay Park Racetrack and Casino in Farmington on May 20, and he said that the NMHA and Zia Park management have a meeting scheduled for April 5 to discuss issues related to the track surface.

The commission also approved Bobby Allison, Linda Salinas, and Norm Amundson as the Board of Stewards and Dr. Steve England as the state veterinarian for the 48-day meet at SunRay Park, which runs from April 23-July 12; and the stakes schedule for Zia Park in Hobbs, which opens its 50-day meet on September 10.

Once again, Zia Park will host the New Mexico Cup for state-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, which the last two seasons has been the richest state or provincial day of racing in North America.

The commission also approved the racing officials, wagering format, post times, and the All American Future Wager for the 60-day Ruidoso Downs meet, which runs May 27-September 5. This year, the All American Future Wager will take place during a seven-day period, compared to a four-day period in 2010.

The next New Mexico Racing Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, April 14, at the commission's headquarters in Albuquerque. The executive session will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by a public session starting at 10:30.

For more information, contact the commission at (505) 222-0700, or visit its website at www.nmrc.state.nm.us.