The New Mexico Horsemen’s Association added to its ongoing legal battle with state regulators when it announced on February 28 it had filed an ethics complaint regarding what it considers to be transfers. Illegally directed wallets to track expenses and retaliated by the racing commission through an attempt to corrupt the organization.
The riders have also asked a judge to disregard the New Mexico Racing Commission and the New Mexico Game Commission for failing to comply with a court order that would keep horse owners’ contributions to the NMHA out of their accounts. at the racecourse.
The complaint was filed February 24 with the New Mexico State Ethics Commission.
Gary Mitchell, the NMHA’s general counsel, said the committee is trying to silence the group of riders, which represent 4,000 owners and trainers.
“If you start weeding out those who advocate appearing before various state agencies and you are exactly this kind of retribution, it sets a dangerous precedent,” he said.
A hearing to resolve multiple issues between the cavalry and state regulators is scheduled for several days starting April 21 with the Games Commission hearing officer.
With the hearing still pending, New Mexico Racing Commission executive director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo read the following statement when contacted about the ethics complaint:
“The New Mexico Riders Association was caught with their hands in a cookie jar by mistake for taking money from their wallet and calling it membership dues. The New Mexico Racing Commission will always abide by state statutes. and that’s what we’re doing. I’m sure once the Ethics Committee reviews the content of their complaint, it will be dismissed immediately.”
The trouble between the riders and the regulator began in December 2020 when the NMHA filed an application with the Second Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County to stop the commission’s years-long operation of taking money from wallets. of riders to pay for track liability insurance for racers and gymnasts. The transfer of funds in the wallet to pay for the running costs of the track has cost the riders more than $8 million.
The NMHA then accused the racing commission of seeking to retaliate by voting to ban the use of wallet coins. Knights organization. The Horsemen’s Association says once the funds in the wallet are transferred to an account at the racecourse, it is “earned income” and can be spent however the account holder chooses, including voluntary contributions. for NMHA. The commission said the NMHA is illegally taking 1% of all wallet accounts to support the association, sometimes without the owners’ knowledge.
Another legal action was taken on June 28 when the NMHA filed a lawsuit accusing the racing commission of submitting its civil rights and claiming the association, at the time, had lost $100,000 to date and could lose up to $600,000 for the year.
KING: NM Horsemen’s Group submits third suit against committee
The Game Commission backed the racing commission but in August 2021 Judge Erin B. O’Connell of the District Court ruled upheld the commission’s action, meaning the riders should have receive those donations, according to Mitchell. He said the racing commission had not complied with that ruling.
“We didn’t get any of those donations,” he said. “We are now asking the judge who issued that stay to hold the racing committee in contempt.”
