Gov. Susana Martinez has vetoed a racehorse drug testing bill that required New Mexico's horse racing regulating body to follow the guidelines for testing set up by an international umbrella organization.
Roswell Republican Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell's bill was unanimously approved by both chambers of the Legislature.
In her veto message to the House, the governor said she finds the legislation "unnecessary and potentially detrimental."
Martinez said that even without it the New Mexico Racing Commission's testing procedures "already meet or exceed the standards" set by the Assn. of Racing Commissioners International.
She said language in the bill "weakens standards by not allowing for the commission to adopt regulations that exceed" the guidelines.
The veto on Tuesday was the first of the legislative session by Martinez.
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