Racino meeting times and locations set

CLOVIS — Two weeks ago, the dates. This week, the times and locations. Next month, the presentations.

It’s coming together now, most recently as the New Mexico Racing Commission posted online its agendas for public hearings from racino license applicants in their cities of interest.

Clovis is the last and longest visit on the tour, with presentations Oct. 5 from a trio of prospects during a day-long schedule centered at the Clovis Civic Center. Before that, commissioners are at the Tucumcari Convention Center on Oct. 4 and the Lordsburg High School Gym on Sept. 28 to hear one presentation each.

NMRC has specified it will take no action on any of those dates, but its executive director said this month they were still on track to make the award decision on the state’s last available horse racetrack and casino license before year’s end. These upcoming meetings will be the latest in a timeline of more than four months now that at one point included five locations and 11 contenders in the running.

Each of the agendas includes a “public session” preceding and a public comment period following the allotted presentations. The agendas do not specify how much time is apportioned for public comments or if a sign-up is required in advance, and they note that the agenda items “are tentative and may vary.”

In Lordsburg the start time is listed as 1 p.m., with a visit to the site of the proposed Hidalgo Downs Racetrack followed by a 2 p.m. presentation from Hidalgo Downs, LLC.

The following Thursday in Tucumcari opens with an 11 a.m. site visit for the proposed Coronado Park Racetrack and Casino, followed by a lunch break and then a 1:30 p.m. presentation from Coronado Partners, LLC.

The next day starts early in Clovis, with a 7:30 a.m. public session and visits to each of the sites proposed for “La Posada del Llano Horse Racing, Casino & Resorts,” “Clovis Racetrack & Casino” and “Curry Downs Racetrack & Casino,” all looking to locations near the Texas border.

Presentations start at 9 a.m. from Nevada-based Full House Resort, following by the Shaun Hubbard-led proposal at 11 a.m. from Clovis Racetrack & Casino, LLC. After a break for lunch, Albuquerque-based L&M Entertainment, LLC goes on at 2:30 p.m.

The public hearings are one of several factors commissioners said they would consider in making their award decision in the coming months.