GOOD NEWS—NEW MEXICO RACING COMMISSION WILL NOT APPROVE A SIXTH TRACK LICENSE AT THIS TIME

As reported in the Albuquerque Journal on August first, the New Mexico Racing Commission voted to suspend considerations for approval of a sixth racetrack license. The racing commission appointed by Governor Martinez was seriously considering approving another license, but the commission newly appointed by Governor Grisham decided to drop the process.

Racing commission chair Beverly Bourguet said, “We are not looking at a sixth race track at the time,” suggesting that it was not in the best interests of the existing tracks and the state. The five pre-existing tracks were on record opposing the issuing of a license at this time, saying that the market would not support a sixth license, and the five existing tracks would suffer a loss of revenue. A recent study by the Legislative Finance Committee reported that track revenue was down 6% between 2012 to 2018.

The five existing racinos are in Hobbs, Ruidoso, Farmington, Albuquerque, and Sunland Park. There were three proposals for a track in Clovis, two in Tucumcari and one for Lordsberg. This means those communities won’t be subjected to the social trauma that would inevitably be inflicted on the citizens in those communities.

Praise God. Now we can hope that some of the racinos and tribal casinos go out of business. It’s time for the government to get out of the predatory gambling racket.