Racing commission meetings cancelled until further notice

ALBUQUERQUE — A working session, committee and regular monthly meetings this week of the New Mexico Racing Commission were canceled until further notice, while the prolonged racino award selection process remains tabled indefinitely.

“At this time I cannot give the specifics as to the reasons why the meetings were canceled, and at this time I do not know if they’ll be rescheduled or if we’ll roll into the July meetings,” NMRC Executive Director Izzy Trejo told The News on Monday.

Regarding the issue of if and when commissioners would make a decision on awarding the state’s sixth horse racing license, Trejo said there were “currently no updates on the matter whatsoever.”

A selection of one among five applicant groups across three cities (including Clovis and Tucumcari) was anticipated by the end of last year but halted by litigation and placed deeper into uncertainty by the governor’s termination of the old commission and appointment of new members this year.

“Our office still gets inquiries regarding the matter. People are still interested in it,” Trejo said. “We have five new commissioners that have a lot of catching up to do.”

Trejo emphasized commissioners’ point at their meeting last month that the racino selection was “on the backburner.” It’s not off the table, but Trejo said he couldn’t speak to how hopeful those invested in a racino award ought to be for the months ahead.

“I guess it depends if you’re an optimist or a pessimist,” he said.