Downs of Albuquerque to move

[fromtheroof]

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Downs at Albuquerque can move to Moriarty, the state Racing Commission voted today.

The unanimous decision will allow the Downs to move to a $65 million, 500-acre facility off of Interstate 40 at New Mexico Highway 41.

It's currently located at Expo New Mexico, the state fairgrounds, in Albuquerque.

While some Moriarty residents said they'd welcome the financial boost from the move, others are worried about the cost of improving sewer and water lines to the area and possible increased crime.



Hopefully they do a good job, the state of the current facility is horrendous, with this edition I imagine New Mexico racing will have 3 tracks with purses averaging over $240,000 a year by 2011 (Zia is at $300,000 and Sunland is about $240,000)

[stu]

Y'all,

I look forward to Pace Advantage members visiting me at the new location in Moriarity.

http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7372&Itemid=2

[Wickel]

This is a horrendous and extremely political move on the part of the New Mexico Racing Commission. The Downs is owned by a major contributor to Gov. Bill Richardson; the entire racing commish was appointed by Richardson; and the land on which the new track will be situated was purchased by a former governor, sharing the political affiliation of Richardson and the racing commission. This, in essense, was a total fix. While the New Mexico State Fair track is indeed in dire shape, I believe there should have been a concerted effort to revive what once was a jewel of racing in New Mexico and the Southwest. But that would mean sharing the proverbial pie with the public, since the state fairgrounds is owned by state governent. Greed and cronyism have no boundaries. The State Fair and Albuquerque, our largest city, deserve to keep racing in this community.

[usafsso]

This is a horrendous and extremely political move on the part of the New Mexico Racing Commission. The Downs is owned by a major contributor to Gov. Bill Richardson; the entire racing commish was appointed by Richardson; and the land on which the new track will be situated was purchased by a former governor, sharing the political affiliation of Richardson and the racing commission. This, in essense, was a total fix. While the New Mexico State Fair track is indeed in dire shape, I believe there should have been a concerted effort to revive what once was a jewel of racing in New Mexico and the Southwest. But that would mean sharing the proverbial pie with the public, since the state fairgrounds is owned by state governent. Greed and cronyism have no boundaries. The State Fair and Albuquerque, our largest city, deserve to keep racing in this community.

Is this anything new in this state, or any state politics. :bang: The question is will it be a big draw track. And if so, will it steal the big GI's from Ruidoso?

[GameTheory]

Do they expect any attendance at all? They move it from the center of the city to 30 miles out in the middle of nowhere?

[Wickel]

Do they expect any attendance at all? They move it from the center of the city to 30 miles out in the middle of nowhere?

Moriarty will be the closest town to the track--population, about 2000! There are several smaller communities in the area, which is known as the Estancia Valley, and I'm not sure there are 10,000 people. So, to answer your question, no, I don't see an attendance explosion. They're banking on the truckers and tourists from nearby Interstate 40. And, more importantly, this move is predicated on getting a larger casino. Original plans for the tracks were to include several restaurants, bars, fancy lodging. But these owners did nothing to improve The Downs at Albuquerque--absolutely nothing. I predict the racino will get built and nothing else. Saw on the news tonight that neither state government or the public opposed the move. WOW! The sad thing about this whole turn of events is that the old Downs at Santa Fe will get squeezed out of reconsideration for a racing license. They were at the top of the heap, but with Moriarty only 40 miles away, you can forget that plan.

[highnote]

Do they expect any attendance at all? They move it from the center of the city to 30 miles out in the middle of nowhere?

Racino?

[Wickel]

Racetracks with casinos=racinos.

[highnote]

Racetracks with casinos=racinos.


That was weird. When I made my post "Racinos?", Wickels post had not appeared yet. Otherwise, I wouldn't have speculated.

How did it happen that his post appears before mine, when it wasn't there when I had posted?

[fromtheroof]

Moriarty will be the closest town to the track--population, about 2000! There are several smaller communities in the area, which is known as the Estancia Valley, and I'm not sure there are 10,000 people. So, to answer your question, no, I don't see an attendance explosion. They're banking on the truckers and tourists from nearby Interstate 40. And, more importantly, this move is predicated on getting a larger casino. Original plans for the tracks were to include several restaurants, bars, fancy lodging. But these owners did nothing to improve The Downs at Albuquerque--absolutely nothing. I predict the racino will get built and nothing else. Saw on the news tonight that neither state government or the public opposed the move. WOW! The sad thing about this whole turn of events is that the old Downs at Santa Fe will get squeezed out of reconsideration for a racing license. They were at the top of the heap, but with Moriarty only 40 miles away, you can forget that plan.

You hit the nail on the head when you said they are looking for the truckers and tourists from I-40, I have seen the plans and if it comes out even remotely close to the designs i have seen, the area will have a racetrack to be proud of. As for the next racetrack in the state, it will be in Raton, Santa Fe has no shot with Pojaque still refusing to pay the state any money from its casino.

[boomman]

You hit the nail on the head when you said they are looking for the truckers and tourists from I-40, I have seen the plans and if it comes out even remotely close to the designs i have seen, the area will have a racetrack to be proud of. As for the next racetrack in the state, it will be in Raton, Santa Fe has no shot with Pojaque still refusing to pay the state any money from its casino.

Having spent 18 years on that dilapidated roof, I can tell you all that no one needs a new track more than the folks in Albuquerque. Since one of the owners is a friend of mine, I have been staying abreast of the new plans and it will beat the heck out of what they had, and I don't think folks will mind driving 40 minutes to a brand new facility. The old track at the state fairgrounds is 70 years old (opened in Oct 1938) and the owners did not want to do massive repairs to something that they only leased and I can't say I blame them. As for a previous poster saying politics run New Mexico racing? DUH! That has always been the case and is not likely to be changing anytime soon!:D

Boomer

[Wickel]

Having spent 18 years on that dilapidated roof, I can tell you all that no one needs a new track more than the folks in Albuquerque. Since one of the owners is a friend of mine, I have been staying abreast of the new plans and it will beat the heck out of what they had, and I don't think folks will mind driving 40 minutes to a brand new facility. The old track at the state fairgrounds is 70 years old (opened in Oct 1938) and the owners did not want to do massive repairs to something that they only leased and I can't say I blame them. As for a previous poster saying politics run New Mexico racing? DUH! That has always been the case and is not likely to be changing anytime soon!:D

Boomer


Yeah, that's the ticket Booman. Let the corruption continue. After all, the owner is a friend of yours and the Guv. The latest Legislative compacts with the Native American tribes for a limit of six racetracks with casinos. Currently we have The Downs at Albuquerque, SunRay Park, Sunland Park, Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park. Currently, the old Downs at Santa Fe and groups in Raton and Tucumcari are vying for the final license. As late as a couple of months ago, I was told the State Fairgrounds would not give up its license. Translation: If the owners wanted to move The Downs at Albuquerque, they would have to get in line for a license. But, amazingly, everything went smoothly. The racing commission--all appointed by Gov. Richardson--voted unanimously in favor of the move; their was no opposition from the State Fair (also state government) and no opposition from the city. As it stands now, it's not really a done deal yet. Two Native American tribes in the area are vehemently opposing the move. Bottom line: the new track should be built at the State Fairgrounds or in Albuquerque, and run by the State Fair.

[fromtheroof]

Yeah, that's the ticket Booman. Let the corruption continue. After all, the owner is a friend of yours and the Guv. The latest Legislative compacts with the Native American tribes for a limit of six racetracks with casinos. Currently we have The Downs at Albuquerque, SunRay Park, Sunland Park, Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park. Currently, the old Downs at Santa Fe and groups in Raton and Tucumcari are vying for the final license. As late as a couple of months ago, I was told the State Fairgrounds would not give up its license. Translation: If the owners wanted to move The Downs at Albuquerque, they would have to get in line for a license. But, amazingly, everything went smoothly. The racing commission--all appointed by Gov. Richardson--voted unanimously in favor of the move; their was no opposition from the State Fair (also state government) and no opposition from the city. As it stands now, it's not really a done deal yet. Two Native American tribes in the area are vehemently opposing the move. Bottom line: the new track should be built at the State Fairgrounds or in Albuquerque, and run by the State Fair.



The State Fair still has a racing license!! They have one for 17 days, they give it to the Downs and let them run the meet, the Downs has a seperate racing license!! The 6 six license rule has to do with casino gaming!!!!! There could be tracks in every little town in NM, but only 6 of the tracks can have a GAMING LICENSE. The Downs of Albuquerque currently has a gaming license, the State Fair does not, so when the Downs moves, the State Fair can not have a casino, but they can still have horse racing, if they apply for a gaming license then they could become the 6th track with a gaming license and that would spell the end of any racinos in Raton, Santa Fe, etc

[boomman]

Yeah, that's the ticket Booman. Let the corruption continue. After all, the owner is a friend of yours and the Guv. The latest Legislative compacts with the Native American tribes for a limit of six racetracks with casinos. Currently we have The Downs at Albuquerque, SunRay Park, Sunland Park, Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park. Currently, the old Downs at Santa Fe and groups in Raton and Tucumcari are vying for the final license. As late as a couple of months ago, I was told the State Fairgrounds would not give up its license. Translation: If the owners wanted to move The Downs at Albuquerque, they would have to get in line for a license. But, amazingly, everything went smoothly. The racing commission--all appointed by Gov. Richardson--voted unanimously in favor of the move; their was no opposition from the State Fair (also state government) and no opposition from the city. As it stands now, it's not really a done deal yet. Two Native American tribes in the area are vehemently opposing the move. Bottom line: the new track should be built at the State Fairgrounds or in Albuquerque, and run by the State Fair.

wick: Don't for one minute think that I'm in favor of corruption ANYWHERE, and if you would check my post, you would find that I'm a FORMER employee in New Mexico and was simply acknowledging how big a role politics plays in New Mexico racing. I will forever be grateful for the start I got there in the racing business many years ago (when it wasn't quite as bad), and the friend of mine you speak of is a minority owner and thus has zero contact with the Governor or anyone else for that matter. Even though you do seem abreast of the situation, so am I, and I think you're in Fantasy Land if you seriously think that Santa Fe will ever re-open. That ship has sailed!!!!!!!!:bang:

Boomer