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Developers Pitch Plans for New Mexico Track

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – As reported by the Associated Press: "West Texans for decades have streamed to Ruidoso to gamble. It's fertile territory, loaded with bettors, that the track owners of Ruidoso Downs don't want to share.

"R.D. Hubbard and his partners at Ruidoso Downs argued on Thursday that they therefore should be awarded a contract to build and operate a proposed new racetrack at Hobbs -- or else the existing business near Ruidoso will suffer along with Lincoln County, which Hubbard's Zia Downs Partners say now benefits from $25 million in impacts from horse racing.

"…The Hubbard group said its background in racing gives it an edge over three other applicants -- Santa Fe art dealer Gerald Peters; former Santa Fe Downs owner Ken Newton, who is partnered with the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas; and Nevada businessman Shawn Scott.

"…Racing Commissoner Al Lucero said Rimbo seemed more worried about Ruidoso Downs than the plan for Hobbs.

"…Scott, a Nevada and Louisiana businessman who leads the Lea Downs bidding group, has a proposal that differs from the other applicants in that he wants such things as a water park, an eight-screen movie theater, retail shops, an RV park and basketball courts as part of the Hobbs complex.

"…Scott's application was rejected last year by the previous Racing Commission, but commissioners named earlier this year agreed to rehear his proposal. Commissioners heard Wednesday from Newton and Peters.

" …[Santa Fe art dealer Gerald Peters'] group said it could have a temporary casino up and running by next June and is ready to conduct a 30-day live racing meet in November 2004.

" [Former Santa Fe Downs owner Ken Newton's] casino would be in operation by December 2004 and a grand opening for the racetrack in November 2005. The Peters and Newton proposals call for 600 slot machines at the casino."

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