Live race dates in the state of New Mexico have dropped by 100 in the past eight years, reports the Hobbs News-Sun. In 2015, New Mexico held 288 days of racing; in 2023, that number will have decreased to 188 days.
In the 1990s, New Mexico held as many as 347 days of racing per year. This year, the state is on track to have held 206 days of live racing: 55 at Sunland Park, 18 at Sun-Ray Park, 47 at Ruidoso Downs, 21 for Downs at Albuquerque, 17 for the New Mexico State Fair, and 48 for Zia Park.
In 2023, the plans are as follows: 55 days at Sunland, 21 days at Sun-Ray, 46 days at Ruidoso, 19 days at the Downs at Albuquerque, 17 for the New Mexico State Fair, and 30 for Zia Park.
The largest drop in dates from 2022 to 2023 is at Zia, down 38 percent year-over-year.
“I had as many as 15 mares,” local breeder Denny Crozier told the News-Sun, “but because these guys cut these days I'm down to only three mares. You can't afford to keep them in training if you can't run them. I just had to cut back on the horses because I don't see any chance to turn this around. I would bet within five years there will be no more horse racing in this state if the thing continues to go where its going. Five years it'll be gone.”
The post ‘I Don’t See Any Chance To Turn This Around’: Breeders Dismayed As New Mexico Race Dates Continue To Decline appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
