The race for the last racino: Companies look to Clovis, Tucumcari for New Mexico's sixth and final racino

CLOVIS, N.M. (KFDA) - The race is on for the last "racino" in New Mexico and there's an 80-percent chance it could land in Eastern New Mexico, just miles from West Texas.

The New Mexico Racing Commission has closed the application process for that final license and is looking at five applicants.

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Three companies are looking to bring a racino to Clovis.

Earlier this week, Full House Resorts, based in Las Vegas, Nev., announced plans to bring a destination resort to the city, complete with a racetrack, casino, luxury hotel, 18-hole golf course, water park and more. One highlight of the company's proposal includes a moving grandstand that would travel around the racetrack at the same speed as the horses, offering a unique perspective for guests.

Also proposing a location in Clovis, L&M Entertainment, a joint venture between companies based in Albuquerque and Illinois, has come up with plans for Curry Downs Racetrack and Casino, complete with slot machines, restaurants and more.

The third Clovis proposal is for the Clovis Racetrack and Casino, which would be based off Highway 60, like the other two Clovis proposals.

As word spread of the possibility of the state's sixth and final racino license coming to Clovis, a group of citizens calling themselves Vision 2020 started looking into the project and spreading the word.

"A racino, racetrack, we all thought would be great with revenue, bringing West Texas money into Clovis was a great thing, and provide a lot more jobs," said Kathy Elliott, on the steering committee for Vision 2020. "It just seemed like a really strong idea."

For some locals, the idea of jobs and an investment into the community seem to be positive.

"The opportunity to have that kind of investment in our community and that opportunity to bring those kinds of numbers of jobs just is pretty exciting," said Randy Harris, President & CEO of Bank of Clovis. "I don't know the last time we had anything like that in Clovis, New Mexico."

For small business owners next to one of the proposed plots on Highway 60, they see the venture as a good thing in the area.

"We think it's going to be a great opportunity for Clovis and we agree with another business coming into our town," said Sonia Flores, co-owner of Edgar Flores Construction. "We're really excited about it."

Elliott also notes that while speaking to some community members, there is also opposition, with citizens showing concern of the effects on those with gambling addictions.

Though New Mexico allows racetracks and casinos, some forms of gambling, including casinos, are illegal in Texas.

Besides the three Clovis proposals, there is also a proposal to place that sixth licensed racino in Tucumcari, where it would be able to pull in visitors from West Texas, as well as travelers along I-40 and Route 66. The company looking to bring that racino is Coronado Partners, based in Logan.

The fifth application, with Hidalgo Downs out of Las Cruces, looks to bring a racino to the other side of the state in Lordsburg.

In the coming months, the racing commission will visit each of the five proposed sites as applicants present their pitch to bring the final license to their city.

As for who will get that final license, the racing commission is expected to pick a final applicant by the end of the year.

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