Laguna Development Corporation, the development arm of the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, is exploring the idea of opening a racino in Clovis, which would be the state’s sixth and final racetrack license.
On June 27 the corporation is hosting an event to bring together stakeholders who might be interested in supporting such a facility, including local government officials and business people from Curry and Roosevelt County.
This would be contingent upon the New Mexico Racing Commission reissuing a Request for Proposal for the sixth license.
Meantime, Laguna has obtained options on land in the county. If it did operate a racino it would not be on sovereign Indian land. Unlike a tribal enterprise on tribal land it would be subject to local land use, in addition to state and local taxes.
There could be others interested in the sixth license, according to Warren Frost, chairman of the Quay County Gaming Authority. Laguna’s interest has been an open secret for several months, he said. He told the Quay County Sun, “In fact, we anticipate there will be one-to-two more groups trying to get the license for Clovis.” He added, “The authority is ready to demonstrate that Tucumcari is a much better location than Clovis or anywhere else in the state for the sixth license. We believe we still have an excellent chance of getting a race track here in Tucumcari.”
The sixth license has remained in limbo since 2014 when the Racing Commission took away the license from La Mesa Racino, which was awarded the license in 2007.
In 2013 the commission held a hearing for members of the horseracing industry, where many supported reissuing the sixth license, including the New Mexico Horseman Association and the Jockeys Guild.
At that time Bruce Rimbo, who was president of Ruidoso Downs, said he doubted the industry could produce enough horses to supply six racetracks.
