RMTC

By Walter Rubel

Las Cruces Sun-News wrubel@lcsun-news.com

SANTA FE >> The veto by Gov. Susana Martinez of a bill to require stricter testing for horse racing in the state has only increased the anger and frustration of legislators during what has been a contentious session, Rep. Andy Nunez, R-Hatch, said Wednesday.

“We’ve only gotten three or four bills up there, and what does she do? She vetoes one,” Nunez said. “That bill passed unanimously in the House and Senate. She says it’s not necessary. She has no idea all the problems we have with horse racing.”

House Bill 379 would have expanded current requirements that the state follow Association of Racing Commissioners International procedures for handling pre-race, post-race, out-of-competition, and necropsy testing of samples taken from race horses.

The bill passed 61-0 in the House and 39-0 in the Senate.

In her veto message, Martinez said the bill was not needed because “Commission procedures already meet or exceed the standards set by the ARCI. In fact, last year the ARCI recognized the excellence achieved by the Commission awarding the executive director the President’s Award for exemplary service.”

The fiscal impact report on the bill states, “The State Racing Commission has already adopted ARCI model rules and guidelines for controlled substances, therapeutic medications, and penalties. However, this bill adds language to sections of the Horse Racing Act related to testing to require pre-race, post-race, out-of-competition, and necropsy testing of blood serum plasma, urine, or other appropriate test samples follow ARCI’s model rules.”

Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, had a mirror bill to the one that was vetoed. She said the additional requirements were needed.

“They really are not doing all the things they’re supposed to be doing, the testing,” she said. “This bill would say that they had to follow the ARCI protocol or better.

“It was good bill and had no opposition — none. We get a lot of money from racing and want to make sure that it is the cleanest, the most high quality. We want to be the gold standard.”

In 2013, Gov. Martinez came to Las Cruces to sign a pair of bills to increase fines for violations of horse racing regulations and establish a new fund for testing.

The new laws come after a New York Times story the year before that highlighted drug use in the horse racing industry as well as horse deaths and jockey injuries at tracks in New Mexico. At about the same time, the FBI arrested seven people connected to the Los Zetas drug cartel of Mexico alleging they laundered millions of dollars by purchasing and racing horses at Ruidoso Downs.

That same year, the racing commission adopted new standards on the drugs that can be administered to horses.

Three years later, Papen said there are still issues to be addressed.

“There’s a lot of stinky stuff going on,” she said.

Walter Rubel can be reached at 541-5441.