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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Adair		DATE TYPED:	01/28/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Race Track Stall Space				SB	19
					ANALYST:		Gonzales

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
			$0.1

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB13

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

New Mexico Racing Commission

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 19 enacts a new section of the Horse Racing Act requiring licensed horse racing tracks to give priority to trainers who reside in New Mexico and train New Mexico-bred horses for access to stall space.

Significant Issues

The competition of quality horseracing has become more intense with the introduction of slot machine casinos at racetracks that increased the size of purse money offered and the quality of horseracing within the state. In turn, stall space requests from trainers at most of the New Mexico racetracks has become more competitive causing some New Mexico trainers with New Mexico-bred horses to be denied partial or in entirely the request for stall space.

With the requirement to provide access to stall space to trainers who reside in New Mexico and train New Mexico-bred horses, there may be a need for some racetracks to construct new barns or use the stall space from existing barns. However, space issues may be a problem if a barn area at a racetrack does not have the capacity to accommodate any additional barns.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

If stall space availability for trainers who reside in New Mexico and train New Mexico-bred horses is improved, there could possibility be a surge in the New Mexico-bred horse population thus causing growth in this industry.

RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 19 related to Senate Bill 13, which requires horse racing tracks to provide holding barns for the temporary boarding of New Mexico-bred horses in order to ensure that horsemen who reside and train in New Mexico have adequate facilities to board their horses.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Could the New Mexico Racing Commission rules be used to make such changes rather than changing the law ? enact the effects of this bill ?

JMG/njw