HORSE SEIZED IN DRUG BUST

SANTA FE -- Red Hot Mag, which won a $19,000 purse last month at the SunRay
race track in Farmington, is no longer racing after the federal government
seized the quarter horse as "proceeds of illegal drug activity."

The horse's owner, Felix Barela, was among more than 30 people arrested in
September raids in the northern New Mexico villages of Chimayo and Santa
Cruz.

Federal authorities accuse Barela of heading a drug trafficking ring that
supplied heroin to northern New Mexico for years.

"Felix Barela generated substantial income from the sale of illegal drugs
which allowed him to acquire certain properties, including this horse,"
said Steve Kotz, an assistant U.S. attorney in Albuquerque who specializes
in property seizures. "But for the sale of illegal drugs, there would have
been no horse and no winnings. That's our allegation."

The horse won the race at the Farmington track Nov. 14. By late November,
the U.S. attorney's office in Albuquerque had seized both the horse and the
winnings.

Red Hot Mag now is in the custody of the U.S. marshal's office. Kotz said
the horse is being cared for by someone familiar with horses.

"We've done this before," Kotz said.

Prosecutors intend to file a motion to allow the government to keep the
purse and sell the horse.

Edward O. Bustamante, who is representing Barela in the criminal case, said
he was not aware of the government's intention to seek forfeiture.