ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s the most lucrative quarter horse race in the country and it’s held right here in New Mexico. But four months after the All American Futurity, the $3 million purse for the winner still hasn’t been paid along with other high-stakes races from that day.
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The New Mexico Racing Commission is staying tight-lipped about what is going on but did confirm an investigation is underway and needs to be complete before the purse is paid out. “The commission’s been thrown somewhat of a curve ball here in which we have to do our due diligence,” said Ismael “Izzy” Trejo, Executive Director of the New Mexico Racing Commission.
Held in Albuquerque this year because of fires and flooding in Ruidoso, the horse Hezgotthelook Z, trained by Toby Keeton and owned by Triple One Ranch, won the All American Futurity. But there’s no race to pay the purse until an investigation is complete. “If you played the game fair and clean, you have nothing to worry about. Now, if they’re sweating then I have to wonder what’s really going on. And this commission’s job is to try and find out,” said Trejo.
He could not elaborate on the nature of the investigation but the commission has put a bigger emphasis on illicit drugs in horses in recent years. KRQE News 13 has also learned there was concern about how the winning horse was acting after the race. KRQE News 13 also knows the investigation involves blood and urine samples from the horses that are being analyzed at a lab in Colorado.
“When the money is that big, we feel the laboratory has to have the time to do their job well and we’re giving them that space,” said Trejo.
The New Mexico Racing Commission is expecting results from the lab in the next seven to ten days. If they’re clean, the purse can be paid. If not, a judicial process will begin. “It’s unfair for people to say we’re playing dirty poker. This is just a regulatory agency that’s doing its due diligence to protect all that are involved,” said Trejo.
Purses from a number of other races that day are also being held until samples are analyzed and returned. That means a little more than $5 million total in earnings from that day are waiting to be paid out. KRQE News1 3 reached out to the attorney of the owners of the winning horse for comment on this story but they weren’t available in time for broadcast.