Laws crack down on horse racing

SANTA FE — New Mexico racing regulators will be able to test more horses for illegal drugs and can impose tougher sanctions for violations under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Susana Martinez.

One new law provides the State Racing Commission with an earmarked source of money — about $700,000 a year — for testing race horses. That’s more than twice what the regulatory agency currently spends, according to Vince Mares, the commission’s executive director.

The money will come from an existing tax on pari-mutuel wagering at horse racing tracks.

Another law will allow the commission to impose penalties up to $100,000, or the amount of a horse’s winnings if that’s greater, for violations of the state’s racing rules, including those against the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Civil penalties currently are limited to $10,000 for each violation.

The laws take effect June 14.

“We owe it to owners, jockeys, horses, and fans alike to ensure that everyone in the industry conducts themselves with integrity,” Martinez said in a statement after signing the legislation in Las Cruces. “Anyone who endangers a horse or a jockey should face stiff penalties.”

The regulatory changes came after a New York Times investigation last year highlighted drug use in the horse racing industry as well as horse deaths and jockey injuries at tracks across the nation, including in New Mexico.

The commission last year adopted new standards governing the drugs that can be administered to horses. One of the measures signed by the governor will ensure that those standards remain tied to national guidelines set by The Association of Racing Commissioners International and will require use of testing labs that meet the association’s guidelines.

Other legislation acted on Tuesday includes:

♦ Locomotive fuel tax credit for BNSF Railway Co., contingent upon the rail company investing at least $50 million to improve New Mexico railroad infrastructure, sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Lundstrom, D-Gallup.

♦ Increased monthly probation fees billed to criminal offenders to a maximum $50 per month, sponsored by Sen. Steven Neville, R-Aztec.

♦ Rules to standardize state in-home visiting programs for new parents as a component of New Mexico early childhood education efforts, sponsored by Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales.

♦ Option for public money to be used by the New Mexico School for the Arts for student room and board costs and outreach activities, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe.

♦ Requirement for candidates seeking certain public offices to declare candidacy one week earlier — the first week in February — allowing courts more time to consider legal challenges, sponsored by Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa.

Journal staff contributed to this report.
— This article appeared on page C01 of the Albuquerque Journal