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Race Commission endorses endorses plan to move racino from Farmington to Clovis
The New Mexico Race Commission endorsed a plan Thursday to move one of five racino licenses from Farmington to Clovis.
The commission approved a motion Thursday allowing owners of SunRay Park to take the first steps toward making the move.
Chairman Billy Smith said the next step is holding a public hearing in Clovis, the date to be announced later.
SunRay President Paul Blanchard said the plan is to build a new casino, hotel and race track on a 200-acre site east of Clovis off U.S. 60/84. The project would take two years to complete, Blanchard said. The racino would include a 3,000-seat grandstand, 1,340 barn stalls for race horses and an RV park with 40 utility hookups.
Blanchard said the facility his group plans to build in Clovis rivals Downs Racetrack & Casino in Albuquerque, where he is also president. He said the group expects the new racino will attract “substantial” tourism spending.
Blanchard said estimates are that Clovis Racino would generate about $14 million a year in new tax revenue for the state.
Blanchard said the Clovis racino would mean “a big, big improvement for racing.”
Plans are to pay out purses of about $12 million the first year of racing, Blanchard said.
Smith said the required 45-day period for public comment began Thursday. He also said he expected the public hearing in Clovis should take place within the next 15 days and will be announced.
