New Mexico Program to Include Some Arizona-Breds

In an effort to ensure races go and improve field sizes, the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association has approved a new program that will allow some Arizona-breds to participate in state-restricted races. Under the change, Arizona-bred Thoroughbreds that also are sired by an Arizona-based stallion will be eligible to participate. In announcing the change in a Sept. 4 letter to members, NMHBA executive director Mary Barber noted that, "the goal of this initiative is to strengthen Thoroughbred racing in New Mexico by helping us maintain full fields and increase racing opportunities for New Mexico-breds." Barber said her organization began to consider options for Arizona-breds in recent years as the future of racing at Turf Paradise found itself on shaky ground. While current plans for the Phoenix track call for a meet beginning Nov. 10 and a possible move to another location in the years ahead, Barber noted that adding Arizona-bred-and-sired runners to restricted races in New Mexico still holds some potential benefits. For instance, such runners would provide a larger pool of horses to ensure races go forward. "We're really short in the stakes races," Barber noted. "We're filling the overnight races for New Mexico-breds, but we have lost several stakes races simply because they haven't filled." Arizona-breds need to be registered with that state's breeder organization, and as noted earlier, need to be by Arizona-based stallions. Owners interested in participating must register as members of the NMHBA. Connections interested in registering an eligible Arizona-bred for the New Mexico program would pay $500 for each horse this partial year and then $1,000 a horse for full years beginning in 2026. In approving the plan, Barber told BloodHorse that safeguards were put in place to allow for any tweaks that might be needed from year to year as the program will be reviewed annually. After 2028, the program sunsets and would require new approval. An analysis of New Mexico racing and breeding prepared in fiscal year 2025 for the New Mexico Racing Commission by Racing, Gaming & Entertainment found that "except for purses, New Mexico Thoroughbred racing did not compare well to many other regions." The report said the current racing model relies too much on New Mexico-breds "to the detriment of attracting horses from elsewhere." The report said nearly 62% of horses entered in Thoroughbred races in New Mexico were bred in the state. On the breeding side, in a trend similar to many other states, New Mexico has seen its foal crop decline from 612 horses in 2013 to 270 in 2023—a 56% decline, according to statistics from The Jockey Club. While some members have concerns about the new plan with Arizona, the NMHBA is looking forward to trying something new. Barber also noted that as more people become familiar with the New Mexico program, the state could pick up some new participants. "We've introduced a few ideas at our annual meetings for our members to vote on in order to raise our foal crop numbers and the quality for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds, and they've been voted down every year," Barber said. "So this is a new idea in hopes to improve those numbers and we're also hoping to get some of these Arizona people to breed in New Mexico."