Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The New Mexico Racing Commission, meeting Thursday in Albuquerque, declined to take action on Coronado Partners’ application for a horse-racing license, but there was no urgency to do so because both sides recently agreed to an extension on the decision.
Warren Frost, a Logan-based lawyer for Coronado and one of its principals, said Friday his investor group and the racing commission mutually agreed on an extension for a decision on the application.
The deadline for the commission to act now is Nov. 2, Frost said.
The latest the commission could act on the application and not violate a court’s order is during its regular meeting on Oct. 20, barring a special meeting after that date.
Coronado Partners proposes a horse-racing track and casino on Tucumcari’s east side that would employ at least 500 people and generate up to $55 million in revenue by 2025.
Albuquerque District Court Judge Nancy Franchini on June 3 ordered the racing commission to act within 90 days on whether to accept or reject Coronado Partners’ request for a license that would allow it to build the facility on Tucumcari’s east side
Franchini affirmed Frost’s request for a writ of mandamus against the commission. A writ of mandamus asks a court to compel another entity to perform its official duties. Coronado Partners has sought such a license for years.
She rejected arguments from commission director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo during a hearing where he claimed the commission could not award the sixth and last remaining horse-racing license because of a variety of issues, including the fragility of the thoroughbred and racing industries in New Mexico.
The commission placed “Coronado Partners vs. NMRC” on its agenda for a closed executive session during its regular meeting Thursday but took no action on it when open session resumed.
