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Thursday, August 14, 2008

No Word, But Moriarty Says Racino's a Go

By Laura Nesbitt
Mountain View Telegraph
          No word yet – but Moriarty is not waiting around for the races to begin.
        "Whether the track is here or not, there are things we have to do," said Councilor Steve Anaya regarding the transfer of the Downs at Albuquerque racetrack and casino from the state fairgrounds to Moriarty.
        Mayor Adan Encinias and the rest of the councilors have not heard from either Downs President Paul Blanchard or anyone from the New Mexico Racing Commission.
        Blanchard is under contract to begin construction by this fall and hopes to open by spring 2010. The commission voted unanimously to allow the Downs to transfer the location of its racetrack and casino to Moriarty and both Laguna and Acoma pueblos have submitted written comments regarding why the Downs should not be allowed to relocate its racetrack and casino.
        The lack of response from the commission hinges on when the Downs intends to begin racing, according to commission attorney Chris Coppin.
        "The statute said you can only give out a license good for one year, and they're not racing until 2010, so the commission said file it within that year and then they'll act on it," Coppin said.
        The commissioners will review the comments in 2009 from the pueblos as well, Coppin added. He did not give a specific month when that would be.
        Although he called it a "struggle," Councilor Larry Irvin believes the arrival of the Downs in Moriarty is a definite.
        "From the public hearings and listening to the spokespeople from the tribes and their concerns regarding losing income, they'll push it as hard as they can. But it's just a matter of jumping through some more hoops," Irvin said.
        Preparations by the city council include updating the city's water master plan, improving the city sewer system after approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of a loan grant program and approving two gateway signs, Anaya said.
        According to Anaya the racetrack's people have been talking with the city's people.
        "Our engineers have had conversations with their engineers so we make sure the proper infrastructure is in place," Anaya said referring to Bohannan Huston, the city's contract engineers.
        "I totally believe it's coming. With the (Gov. Bill Richardson) trying to do something with the property on the state fairgrounds... I don't think they have anywhere else to go," said Councilor Ted Hart.
        Councilor Bobby Ortiz was not available for comment.