Latest news with #NewMexicoRacingCommission
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Can agencies claim immunity from NM Civil Rights Act? Judges get new guidelines
Jun. 2—SANTA FE — New Mexico's Supreme Court on Monday drew new boundaries for a 2021 law that allows individuals to file lawsuits in state court against government agencies for alleged civil rights violations. The unanimous ruling by the state's highest court in a lawsuit involving the New Mexico Racing Commission establishes that agencies can be immune from legal liability for certain disciplinary actions they take. But whether "judicial immunity" can be claimed must be decided by a judge, based on the facts of a specific case. "Judicial immunity protects individuals and governmental entities from liability when functioning as an 'arm of the court' or, in other words, when performing a function that is integral to a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding," Justice Briana Zamora wrote in the court's opinion. The Supreme Court's ruling comes four years after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law the state Civil Rights Act, a measure that was prompted by protests against racism and police misconduct following the 2020 death of George Floyd. Going forward, the ruling could provide more clarity for future New Mexico cases filed under the law, though the political winds that prompted its passage have waned. The legislation was opposed at the time of its approval by New Mexico cities and counties, along with some law enforcement officials, who expressed concern it could expose taxpayers to expensive settlements and lead to higher insurance costs. Prior to lawmakers approving the 2021 law, lawsuits alleging civil rights violations in New Mexico could only be filed in federal court, not in state court. Specifically, the new state law was intended to largely eliminate a different kind of legal immunity — the qualified immunity that law enforcement officers can claim in cases involving possible misconduct. The case at the heart of the Supreme Court ruling involves Brad Bolen, a licensed horse trainer from Texas who was fined $500 after a New Mexico Racing Commission disciplinary panel investigated his argument with a racing steward. Bolen appealed the fine and also filed a lawsuit against the New Mexico Gaming Commission, claiming his constitutional free speech rights had been violated. The gaming commission's initial request to have the lawsuit dismissed on the grounds of judicial immunity was rejected by a state judge in Albuquerque. But the judge's ruling was then overturned by the state Court of Appeals, setting the stage for the Supreme Court to weigh in. While the Supreme Court largely sided with the Court of Appeals, it opted not to decide the merits of the case in question. Instead, the Supreme Court remanded the case back to the District Judge Joshua Allison, with guidance that he consider the underlying claims by weighing six factors to determine whether judicial immunity should be applied. Those six factors, including the nature of the disciplinary proceeding and the need to protect decision-makers from harassment or intimidation, were adopted from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on judicial immunity. The exact number of lawsuits filed under New Mexico's Civil Rights Act in the four years since it was enacted was not immediately available Monday, said a spokesman with the Administrative Office of the Courts. In large part, that's because such cases are lumped with other types of complaints in the judiciary's case-filing system.
NBC Sports
14-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Investigation turns up an Illicit drug in a dozen racehorses following the high-stakes All American
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico regulators have suspended two prominent horse trainers after tests turned up a banned medication in a dozen racehorses that competed in one of the world's most recognized and richest quarter-horse events. Officials with the New Mexico Racing Commission described it as unprecedented to have so many top finishers test positive on such an important race day. The All American is equivalent to the Kentucky Derby for thoroughbreds. More than $5 million in purse money for the All American Futurity and the other races run that September day had been withheld pending the outcome of the testing, which took months to complete. Regulators announced the suspensions during a news conference Wednesday. The formal notices were issued Thursday. 'These poor innocent horses are being administered these illicit drugs to try to get an unfair advantage in our big races. And it was this commission's duty and job to try to discover that,' said Ismael 'Izzy' Trejo, the commission's executive director. It was the distressed behavior of Hezgothelook Z, the winner of the All American and the Triple Crown, that caught the attention of veterinarians and race fans. That spurred an investigation to determine what exactly was in the horse's blood. Lab tests discovered carmoterol in Hezgothelook Z and 11 other horses that ran in high-stakes races, including the $3 million All American Futurity and the $1 million All American Derby. The drug can improve breathing but also is known to build muscle. It marked the first time carmoterol was detected in samples taken from horses racing in New Mexico. Commission officials said it also has been found recently by regulators in California and Texas. The violations were linked to two trainers, Toby Keeton and Heath Taylor. The suspensions mean they will be barred from racing in North America pending further disciplinary proceedings. Keeton did not return phone messages, and Taylor said he had yet to see the formal notice. The horses go on a list that will prevent them from being run in any licensed jurisdiction in North America until the adjudication process is finalized. Keeton already was suspended in Texas, after the racing commission there reported positive tests of carmoterol in some horses he raced at Lone Star Park last September. Noting that the trainers operated out of other states and have participated in races throughout the country, New Mexico Racing Commission Chairman Billy Smith expressed concerns that the latest positive test results could ripple throughout the horse racing industry. 'A lot of people are getting hurt over this. It changes pedigrees. There are so many things it changes,' Smith said. 'We're going to lose some owners, we're going to lose some trainers and participants. So it's definitely going to hurt. It is going to take time for this to heal over.' New Mexico's horse racing industry was rocked in 2012 by doping allegations uncovered by a New York Times investigation. Expanded testing and other regulations followed, with the commission now touting its aggressive program for ferreting out cheaters with testing done both immediately after races and when the horses are out of competition. The sanctions can be steep, with numerous violations leading to suspensions that can last decades. Commission officials said Wednesday that the use of illicit drugs appears to have fallen even more over the last several years, dropping from 3.5% of samples resulting in violations in 2017 to just over one-half of a percent last year. Trejo said the challenge is developing standards for emerging drugs that might boost a horse's performance. 'There's thousands and thousands and thousands of drugs in this world,' he said. 'And trying to find that needle in the haystack is very difficult.'
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Investigation turns up an Illicit drug in a dozen racehorses following the high-stakes All American
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico regulators have suspended two prominent horse trainers after tests turned up a banned medication in a dozen racehorses that competed in one of the world's most recognized and richest quarter-horse events. Officials with the New Mexico Racing Commission described it as unprecedented to have so many top finishers test positive on such an important race day. The All American is equivalent to the Kentucky Derby for thoroughbreds. More than $5 million in purse money for the All American Futurity and the other races run that September day had been withheld pending the outcome of the testing, which took months to complete. Regulators announced the suspensions during a news conference Wednesday. The formal notices were issued Thursday. 'These poor innocent horses are being administered these illicit drugs to try to get an unfair advantage in our big races. And it was this commission's duty and job to try to discover that,' said Ismael 'Izzy' Trejo, the commission's executive director. It was the distressed behavior of Hezgothelook Z, the winner of the All American and the Triple Crown, that caught the attention of veterinarians and race fans. That spurred an investigation to determine what exactly was in the horse's blood. Lab tests discovered carmoterol in Hezgothelook Z and 11 other horses that ran in high-stakes races, including the $3 million All American Futurity and the $1 million All American Derby. The drug can improve breathing but also is known to build muscle. It marked the first time carmoterol was detected in samples taken from horses racing in New Mexico. Commission officials said it also has been found recently by regulators in California and Texas. The violations were linked to two trainers, Toby Keeton and Heath Taylor. The suspensions mean they will be barred from racing in North America pending further disciplinary proceedings. Keeton did not return phone messages, and Taylor said he had yet to see the formal notice. The horses go on a list that will prevent them from being run in any licensed jurisdiction in North America until the adjudication process is finalized. Keeton already was suspended in Texas, after the racing commission there reported positive tests of carmoterol in some horses he raced at Lone Star Park last September. Noting that the trainers operated out of other states and have participated in races throughout the country, New Mexico Racing Commission Chairman Billy Smith expressed concerns that the latest positive test results could ripple throughout the horse racing industry. 'A lot of people are getting hurt over this. It changes pedigrees. There are so many things it changes,' Smith said. 'We're going to lose some owners, we're going to lose some trainers and participants. So it's definitely going to hurt. It is going to take time for this to heal over.' New Mexico's horse racing industry was rocked in 2012 by doping allegations uncovered by a New York Times investigation. Expanded testing and other regulations followed, with the commission now touting its aggressive program for ferreting out cheaters with testing done both immediately after races and when the horses are out of competition. The sanctions can be steep, with numerous violations leading to suspensions that can last decades. Commission officials said Wednesday that the use of illicit drugs appears to have fallen even more over the last several years, dropping from 3.5% of samples resulting in violations in 2017 to just over one-half of a percent last year. Trejo said the challenge is developing standards for emerging drugs that might boost a horse's performance. 'There's thousands and thousands and thousands of drugs in this world," he said. 'And trying to find that needle in the haystack is very difficult.' Susan Montoya Bryan, The Associated Press
Associated Press
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Investigation turns up an Illicit drug in a dozen racehorses following the high-stakes All American
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico regulators have suspended two prominent horse trainers after tests turned up a banned medication in a dozen racehorses that competed in one of the world's most recognized and richest quarter-horse events. Officials with the New Mexico Racing Commission described it as unprecedented to have so many top finishers test positive on such an important race day. The All American is equivalent to the Kentucky Derby for thoroughbreds. More than $5 million in purse money for the All American Futurity and the other races run that September day had been withheld pending the outcome of the testing, which took months to complete. Regulators announced the suspensions during a news conference Wednesday. The formal notices were issued Thursday. 'These poor innocent horses are being administered these illicit drugs to try to get an unfair advantage in our big races. And it was this commission's duty and job to try to discover that,' said Ismael 'Izzy' Trejo, the commission's executive director. It was the distressed behavior of Hezgothelook Z, the winner of the All American and the Triple Crown, that caught the attention of veterinarians and race fans. That spurred an investigation to determine what exactly was in the horse's blood. Lab tests discovered carmoterol in Hezgothelook Z and 11 other horses that ran in high-stakes races, including the $3 million All American Futurity and the $1 million All American Derby. The drug can improve breathing but also is known to build muscle. It marked the first time carmoterol was detected in samples taken from horses racing in New Mexico. Commission officials said it also has been found recently by regulators in California and Texas. The violations were linked to two trainers, Toby Keeton and Heath Taylor. The suspensions mean they will be barred from racing in North America pending further disciplinary proceedings. Keeton did not return phone messages, and Taylor said he had yet to see the formal notice. The horses go on a list that will prevent them from being run in any licensed jurisdiction in North America until the adjudication process is finalized. Keeton already was suspended in Texas, after the racing commission there reported positive tests of carmoterol in some horses he raced at Lone Star Park last September. Noting that the trainers operated out of other states and have participated in races throughout the country, New Mexico Racing Commission Chairman Billy Smith expressed concerns that the latest positive test results could ripple throughout the horse racing industry. 'A lot of people are getting hurt over this. It changes pedigrees. There are so many things it changes,' Smith said. 'We're going to lose some owners, we're going to lose some trainers and participants. So it's definitely going to hurt. It is going to take time for this to heal over.' New Mexico's horse racing industry was rocked in 2012 by doping allegations uncovered by a New York Times investigation. Expanded testing and other regulations followed, with the commission now touting its aggressive program for ferreting out cheaters with testing done both immediately after races and when the horses are out of competition. The sanctions can be steep, with numerous violations leading to suspensions that can last decades. Commission officials said Wednesday that the use of illicit drugs appears to have fallen even more over the last several years, dropping from 3.5% of samples resulting in violations in 2017 to just over one-half of a percent last year. Trejo said the challenge is developing standards for emerging drugs that might boost a horse's performance. 'There's thousands and thousands and thousands of drugs in this world,' he said. 'And trying to find that needle in the haystack is very difficult.'
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
NM Racing Commission: 12 horses at All American Futurity had illicit drug in their system
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – It's a bombshell finding for one of the world's richest Quarter Horse races and it's held in New Mexico. The most recent winner of the All-American Futurity cheated. That's according to the New Mexico Racing Commission which said as many as 12 horses from that day of races were on an illicit drug. Story continues below NM Film: Storied New Mexico movie ranch transitions into a new era Investigation: 'I'm scared to death': Defense attorney at center of DWI scheme reports burglary Real Estate: $16M Abiquiu farm for sale offers chance to live inside an O'Keeffe painting 'These poor innocent horses are being administered these illicit drugs to try to get an unfair advantage in our big races,' said Executive Director of the New Mexico Racing Commission Izzy Trejo. It's a scandal amidst the nation's most lucrative Quarter Horse race held in New Mexico. The All American Futurity, held at the Albuquerque Downs last summer had a $3 million purse. That money is still on hold after lab tests found problems with 12 horses. 'We had over 12 violations on this big day in big money races. The drug found in all 12 samples was one that was recently found in other jurisdictions. It's called Carmoterol,' said Trejo. The illicit drug is used to build horses' muscles. The racing commission said it found proof in blood and urine samples collected after each race. As of Wednesday, the horses involved, including the winner of the All American Futurity race Hezgothelook Z, will go on what is called a stewards list. 'That means that these horses cannot run in any licensed jurisdiction in North America until the adjudication process has been finalized,' said Trejo. The two accused trainers Toby Keeton and Heath Taylor are also being suspended. As for the winnings, those purses will be released for anyone who wasn't involved. 'We have been holding a lot of money. Probably $5 million in purses,' Trejo said. The racing commission said those involved not only cheated the other participants in the race, they also cheated the betting public. Payouts from that day will remain unchanged. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
