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What’s
happening April 3
Benefits Counseling Seminar
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012 • W W W . R U I D O S O F R E E P R E S S . C O M • VOL. 4, NO. 14
Track spearheads industry reform, refutes ‘most dangerous’ claim
Everything starts at 10:30 a.m., so get there early! Fire engine rides and Smokey will be there too! Behind Smokey Bear Ranger Station. Sponsored by the Smokey Bear Ranger Station 575-257-4095 and Ruidoso Parks and Recreation 575-257-5030. Free.
By Eugene Heathman Editor eugene@ruidosofreepress.com According to a New York Times article published March 24; from 2009 to 2011, Ruidoso Downs had the nation’s highest rate of incidents in which horses broke down or showed signs of injury. According to the analysis attributed in the article, five of the six tracks with the highest incident rates last year were in New Mexico. All are casino tracks, commonly called “racinos.” The New York Times article reports that Ruidoso Downs topped the list in 2011 with 14.1 incidents per 1,000 starts. Both the New Mexico Racing Commission and Ruidoso Downs Race Track officials have taken exception with the picture painted in the article and call into question how the analysis data was gathered and reported in the article while also calling the stronger drug enforcement rules recently put into place “precedent setting.” The Racing Commission, through its executive director Vince Mares, issued a statement reading “the article claimed exaggerated rates for accidents.” Ruidoso Downs Race Track President Bruce Rimbo said the “article clearly left out facts that were presented to the New York Times prior to the story being published.” One of the facts provided that was left out of the article according to Rimbo was the actual low rate of catastrophic injuries at Ruidoso Downs. “While Ruidoso Downs Race Track finds any injury a horse suffers unacceptable, the facts show that nearly 16,000 horses started over the three-year period the New York Times studied and just three one-hundredth of one percent of those horses encountered fatal injuries. In a perfect world, there would be no injuries but in the world of sports that is just not a reality,” Rimbo said.
Easter at Smokey Bear Historical Park
High altitude a factor for equine fatigue
Visit with Lucas Zeruche, State of NM Aging & Long Term Services to learn about benefits available for seniors at the Ruidoso Public Library, 107 Kansas City Drive. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. www.youseemore. com/ruidosopl/. Free.
April 6
New Mexico’s struggle for statehood speech
Join us for Dr. Richard Melzer’s talk about our state’s struggle for statehood and how it became the state we know today. Dr. Melzer, Professor of History, at the UNM-Valencia Campus since 1979, has published and lectured on a wide variety of topics in 20th Century New Mexico History. His publications have appeared in New Mexico Magazine, New Mexico Historical Review, Western Historical Quarterly, and others. 7 p.m. Capitan Public Library, 106 Lincoln Ave. 575-354-3035. Free.
April 7
Easter egg hunt at Cedar Creek
Starting promptly at 11 a.m. for kids 12 years old and younger. The park is divided into age groups with every participant guaranteed a prize after the hunt. Bring your own basket and don’t be late! Sponsored by Capitan Volunteer Fire Department, Smokey Bear’s Hometown Association and Smokey Bear Historical Park. 575-354-2748 www.sbhacapitan.org/default.aspx. Free.
April 9
Brain stretching forum at ENMU-R
An open forum for discussing ancient theories, modern dilemmas and current events 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in Room 105 at ENMU-R. Local experts in a variety of fields act as facilitators and participants are encouraged to bring their life experiences and opinions to share in the round table format. Areas of exploration include, but are not limited to, relationships, consciousness, the role of technology and the nature and limitations of knowledge. There are no prerequisites; only a curiosity and willingness to entertain new ideas. www.ruidoso. enmu.edu/, 257-3012. Free.
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According to the article, Ruidoso attributes its incident rate in part to the failure of horses to acclimate quickly to the track’s elevation. Some horses that appeared to be injured, track officials said, may have simply needed time “to catch their breath.” At nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, Ruidoso Downs is located at the highest elevation of any track in the United States. The high altitude would naturally have more horses in need of assistance for simply being out of breath.” The New York Times reporter admitted prior to publication of the article that he thought he was going to have a heart attack while climbing stairs in Ruidoso so he clearly recognized the impact high altitude can have on performance,” Rimbo said.
Terry Chiplin of Active at Altitude Training Center in Estes Park, Colo., says he has seen “the effects of athletes from a variety of different sports arriving at higher altitudes unprepared: fatigue, dehydration, a pounding headache and simple difficulty breathing.” Clearly altitude makes a big difference and comparing a track at 7,000 feet to lower elevation tracks is like comparing apples and oranges. “In cases where horses need additional assistance Ruidoso personnel are there to help immediately. – Bruce Rimbo, This may result in a Ruidoso Downs Rade Track President chart caller’s comment appearing negaEugene Heathman/Ruidoso Free Press tive yet often times those same horses will come back in their next start just a few weeks oughbreds and Quarter Horses. “We continulater after acclimating to the altitude and per- ally work to maintain a fair and consistent racing surface for the safety of the jockeys form at a very high level,” Rimbo said. and horses,” Nichols said.
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We are committed to the health and welfare of our horses.
Investment in safer track surfaces reduce fatalities
In March, 2011, an intensive renovation of the Ruidoso Downs racing surface was performed on the seven-eighths mile Thoroughbred oval and the 550-yard Quarter Horse chute under the supervision of Ruidoso Downs Vice President of Racing and Facilities Les Nichols and renowned international track consultant Dennis Moore. “Ruidoso Downs invested nearly $200,000 in racing surface improvements in 2011 which lowered the number of fatal injuries by more than 25 percent,” Rimbo said. Ruidoso Downs is the only track in the world with separate race tracks for Thor-
Photo courtesy of Ruidoso Downs Race Track
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Injury data not medically substantiated
The investigation conducted and reported by The New York Times claim that industry practices continue to put animal and rider at risk. According to the article, a computer analysis of call chart data from more than 150,000 races, along with injury reports, drug test results and interviews, claims the racing industry is still mired in a culture of drugs, lax regulation and a fatal breakdown rate that remains higher than in most of the world. “Using charts made by a chart caller, who is clearly not a trained veterinary professional, as a source for a study on injuries is clearly suspect. The article admits that chart callers are “stylistically different” and clearly are not able to discern a horse “out of breath” or exhausted from one truly injured,” Rimbo said The New York Times reported equine injury data was retrieved from chart caller reports. A chart caller is the person tasked with developing a statistical “picture” of a race (from which past performances are compiled), that shows the position and margin of each horse at designated points of call (depending on the distance of the race), as well as the See RACETRACK, pg 5
Orio Fire, blaze on Mescalero reservation heat up 2012 fire season By Eugene Heathman Editor eugene@ruidosofreepress.com A brush and grass fire, the first of the season in Lincoln County and nearly to the day of the White Fire anniversary, has consumed at least 1,000 acres Sunday north of Fort Stanton on BLM land. The flames are now 20 percent contained according to reports from local officials. Due to high winds and warm temperatures, the Orio Fire is burning in grass and brush near the junction of Hwy 385 and 220. The fire is approximately 800-1000 acres burning on BLM and private lands, and threatening Forest Service. Multiple resources from
County, State, BLM and Forest Service were dealing with high winds gusting up to 45 mph, which were hampering suppression activities. Both ground and aerial resources were holding the fire at the Salado Dam Road with the assistance of an air tanker. The winds have died down slightly helping suppression activities. There are no structures threatened. Crews have made excellent progress on the fire due to cooler nighttime temperatures and higher relative humidity. Another fire on the Mescalero Reservation near the intersection of Hwy 70 and NM State Road 244 forced the Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press evacuation of several homes. Members of the Bonito Fire Department begin clearing the The causes of both fires are site of a brush fire which started at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday under investigation. evening north of Fort Stanton. L LEVE ONE
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