Horse racing has had a storied history in New Mexico, but it faces an uncertain future, according to those associated with the so-called sport of kings.
Recently, the New Mexico Racing Commission hosted a meeting in Albuquerque to discuss what can be done to keep horse racing healthy in the Land of Enchantment.
Horse breeders, regulators, track executives and others attended the meeting, either in person or on live video. They wanted to discuss everything from threats of online wagering, higher costs at tracks and other issues.
Commissioner David “Hossie” Sanchez, who owns a horse breeding and racing operation near where the meeting was held, said that the industry as a whole needs to work together.
“That’s the only way this thing is going to work,” Sanchez said at the meeting. “We have to see other people’s problems and see where they’re coming from.”
That sentiment seemed to be shared by those in attendance. They also agreed that there is no magic bullet to fix the industry.
But many applauded the meeting, which lasted several hours and touched on topics such as educating fans through a marketing campaign, stiffer penalties for owners and trainers that are found to be in violation of doping animals, and improving the perception of the sport.
Not everyone was happy with the outcome of the meeting. Gary Mitchell, an attorney representing the horse owners group, told the Associated Press that he was disappointed. He said it appeared the commission had only the track owners’ interests in mind and that tracks and breeders were looking to get a larger share of the gaming purse money.
“And these are not wealthy New Mexicans,” Mitchell said. “These are classic New Mexicans — born and raised in New Mexico, native to New Mexico, who have deep roots in agriculture and in the cultures they were raised in. How about our culture? How about us?”
The commission, whose members are appointed by Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, read a statement that tried to placate everyone in attendance at the meeting.
“Despite that everyone here has different perspectives and responsibilities, we all share the common and important goal of cultivating the state’s horse racing industry for the benefit of the public who enjoys it and the persons and families who work in it for their livelihoods,” the commission stated.
