SEARCH NEWS:

 

Hubbard Picked for New Mexico Track, Casino Contract

NEW MEXICO – As reported by the Associated Press: "…The state Racing Commission on Wednesday picked Ruidoso Downs owner R.D. Hubbard and his partners to build and operate a new horse race track and casino, to be called Zia Park, at Hobbs.

"`There's going to be a diamond in the desert created by this process,' said Commission Chairman Jack Cole, borrowing the comment made recently by fellow Commissioner Arnold Rael to describe what will be the state's fifth track.

"Hubbard and his three partners, along with the state, the horse racing industry and folks in Lea County and Hobbs are betting that Cole's prediction becomes reality.

"…The casino could be up and running within a year and the owners expect the track to be finished in time for a 53-day live race meet starting in October or November of 2005.

"The Zia group plans to spend about $43 million to build the track and casino. It's a gamble because no one can say with any certainty how popular the track and casino will be. Also, the Hobbs venture could face some major competition if casino-gaming were to become legal in Texas.

"…One of Hubbard's partners, Paul Blanchard, and Peters are close friends of Gov. Bill Richardson and both contributed thousands of dollars to Richardson's political campaign. Richardson had said the commission's actions would not be influenced by personal or political ties and he reiterated that Wednesday…"

< Gaming News