Year after year, New Mexico political campaigns receive substantial contributions from prominent figures in the state’s horse racing industry.
In New Mexico’s last two election cycles alone, racetracks, their executives and members of the New Mexico Racing Commission have funneled nearly $350,000 into local races. One candidate, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, served as chair of the New Mexico Racing Commission before taking over as the county’s lead prosecutor in early 2023.
Bregman’s campaign is the most cash-rich of this campaign cycle, with $479,000 raised, according to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office. Records show that nearly 10 percent of his contributions came from individuals associated with New Mexico horse racing, several of whom he once regulated as chair of the NMRC.
He is far from the only candidate to benefit from the horse racing industry’s donations. Racetracks and casinos — known in the industry as “racinos” — have also given generously to candidates for governor. In 2022, Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino donated nearly $21,000 to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s re-election campaign, and $5,200 to her opponent, Mark Ronchetti. SunRay Park and Casino, the Farmington racino, donated $10,400 each to Lujan Grisham and Ronchetti.
Below, see how the racing industry has contributed to some of New Mexico’s biggest races at the ballot box.
I forgot to mention in the repay comments that the horsemen should be reimbursed their attorney fees too. When one case when they finally made it to court. The horsemen won the case but oh well, so what? NOTHING! (In regard to the tracks using the horsemen’s purse money to pay for the track’s costs of doing business.
I also wanted to emphasize that the honest hard working population of horse racing are not a part of this corruption of political donations.
Many members of the horse racing industry have had enough abuse and moved to other states in order to survive. These statistics will never make it to legislators, rather just the glorified bloated financial of increased purses and the fact that the horse population is decreasing (a partial statistic that they have increased with the lack of live racing dates).
NM racing is a mid level regulated and recognized gambling sport. Many participants have honed and improved their ability to make it to the highest echelons in the racing industry. Among the trainers of note are Bob Baffert, Steve Assmusen, D Wayne Lucas, Carl Nafzgar. Jockeys Mike Smith and Garrett Gomez.
NM racing is being ruined by the very entities who have been made rich by horse racing.
I hope I haven’t bored you with a “few” of the facts from the horsemen as a horsewoman. I have run the gamut in most of the racing industry as an owner, trainer, horsemen’s bookkeeper, director of publications and a statistical clerk for the NMHA state office.