|
FROM
THE PRESIDENT
A LETTER
FOR ALL NEW MEXICO HORSEMEN
FROM: TERRY WALKER, PRESIDENT, NEW MEXICO
HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Greetings and best wishes to all Horsemen.
As you know
since the coming of gaming,
slot machine revenue earmarked for
purses in many states including New Mexico has been a great positive
to our industry.
Without the slots at our 5 racetracks
the
purses in New Mexico would be just a
fraction of what they are today.
Who would have thought 10 years ago when
the race tracks and horsemen in New Mexico were struggling to exist
as an industry that the money from gaming would have such a positive
impact on our purses and our industry as a whole.
Since the coming of gaming
there appears to be
a trend at some tracks nationwide to
emphasize gaming over horse racing.
The result is to emphasize the money
that is brought in through the machines over the economic benefit of
live racing.
As a result, racing is minimized and the
costs associated with racing are magnified. What is forgotten in all
this is the fact
that NM and other states passed gaming
laws because of
horse racing.
The legislature in New Mexico and other
states
passed the laws that permitted slots at
racetracks
in recognition of
a need to help the agricultural economy
(hay and other feed, supplies, brood mares, stallions, farms, racing
horses etc., ) that is part and parcel to the horse racing industry.
In their deliberations, the legislatures
were very clear that the purpose of gaming was to support the horse
racing industry and to assist the folks who race and breed horses as
well as those who were willing to take the risk of operating a
racetrack.
Essentially the legislature in New
Mexico created an equal partnership between the Horsemen, the
Breeders and track management so that each could survive and thrive
in our important industry.
This fact is becoming lost
on some racetracks across the county
including New Mexico as more and more
track operators view the horse racing side of their business as an
economic afterthought and an expense.
Last year, the NMHA examined
the economic impact of
horse racing on our state.
We found that
our owners and trainers spend more than
$75 million dollars per year training horses for racing in New
Mexico.
In real economic terms with the turn
over of money our impact on the state may be as large as $300
million dollars per year.
This number does not include what is
spent in the state by the horse Breeder’s.
Simply said, our economic impact on the
State of New Mexico and the cities where racing is held is great.
In this regard we are comfortable is
saying that we have a greater economic impact on the state than the
Junior Arabian Horseshow (held at the DAA) and the National Junior
Rodeo (held at Sunray Park) combined.
We are proud of our sport and encourage
our members to be proud of our sport as well.
Presently the Horsemen
Association is in a dispute with Sunray Park over certain matters.
As a result there has been no out of
state simulcasting over the past several days.
The Horsemen has attempted to seek the
track’s agreement over several items that would benefit all
concerned.
Among the items that have been advanced
by the Horsemen is a replay booth where Horsemen can view their
races the same day that they occur,
further assurances that the track will
be maintained to its safest possible condition and an agreement that
the Sunray will not discriminate or retaliate against Horsemen who
raise legitimate concerns over track safety or backside conditions.
Each of the proposals that have been raised are reasonable and
appropriate. To date Sunray Park has refused to agree to any of
these legitimate concerns.
The Horsemen remain open to any dialogue
that will resolve these concerns.
As an organization we will
continue to press for an equal economic partnership with our
racetracks throughout the state.
A partnership where horse racing is
placed at the forefront of the business and
dealt with fairly.
As always, the NMHA is here
to support and advance horse racing in New Mexico.
If you have any questions about this
letter, please call me at 915.474.3580
Good luck and good racing!!!!
Sincerely,
Terry Walker, President, New Mexico Horsemen’s
Association
|