Remote Surveillance Trailer in Clovis, NM

CLOVIS, New Mexico (KVII) — According to the Eastern New Mexico News, Clovis is set to get a racino after the New Mexico Racing Commission voted unanimously Tuesday morning to allow Western Gaming to relocate its SunRay Park gaming license from Farmington to Clovis.

The 3-0 vote followed months of sometimes contentious debate and came after an hourlong executive session. When the commission returned to public session at its meeting in Albuquerque, senior legal staffer David Dominguez said the process that began last October “has been a deliberative process.”

Before the vote, legal staff said the commission’s overall goal is achieving what is good for the industry. Dominguez pointed to a recent request by Zia Park in Hobbs to also build a racino in Clovis as evidence the city is a strong market and that relocation would be best for the state horse racing industry.

“I think it’s a great day for Clovis,” said Tina Dziuk, executive director for Clovis Economic Development. “An increase in tourism will bring more revenue for quality-of-life projects around the city.”

Dziuk, who attended the vote in Albuquerque, said she believes Amarillo and Lubbock residents will make up a “large portion” of the visitors to a Clovis racino, “but I think people will be coming from other states as well.”

Western Gaming partner Paul Blanchard said prior to Tuesday’s meeting that allowing the move to Clovis would mean significantly more tax dollars for the state and Clovis. He said the move is necessary after 27 years in Farmington because of a 60% decline in revenue at SunRay. Blanchard said annual revenue has dropped from $10 million in 2011 to $4 million in 2024, blaming much of the loss on the proximity of other nearby gambling establishments and calling the area “one of the highest (casino) saturations in the state.”

Blanchard said projections show the move to Clovis will produce at least seven times more tax revenue each year for the state treasury — as much as $50 million.

Opponents argued the relocation would severely damage the economy of Farmington and San Juan County while cannibalizing other established gambling operations, a main source of income for many Native American tribes across New Mexico.

San Juan County Manager Mike Stark said the county owns the building and track being operated by SunRay in Farmington, and that relocating the license to Clovis would leave the county with an empty property valued at $26 million and no client to lease it. Stark estimated the loss of about 120 career jobs and said 80% of those affected are Native American. He said the racino generates about $19 million a year in tax dollars for San Juan County.

Gambling exclusive of the lottery also pours about $150 million a year into the state general fund.

Opponents, including those representing Zia Park, said they believe the commission is moving too fast and has not been transparent in the process that began last October. “What’s the rush?” Zia attorney Matt Beck asked. Beck and other opponents suggested the commission issue a new, sixth racino license for Clovis and open it up to competitive bidding.

Chairman Billy Smith said only the governor could initiate a new racino license. When Beck argued there was no written statute stating the governor had to start the process, Buffington said, “We are here serving at the pleasure of the governor.”

Buffington said that while opponents argued the move would hurt tribal gambling revenue, the commission received a letter from the Navajo Nation endorsing the relocation to Clovis.

The commission had granted preliminary approval last December. About 100 Clovis-area residents traveled to Albuquerque on Friday to show support when commissioners heard from those who supported the move and from those who opposed it.

Clovis Mayor Mike Morris said he believes the Racing Commission made clear its goal is to improve horse racing across the state while increasing revenue for the state. He also said he thinks Blanchard made the more compelling case and “it’s clear the relocation to Clovis does that.”

During rebuttal, Blanchard said any SunRay employee who wanted to move to Clovis would be hired and would receive an increased salary.

Blanchard had previously said he thought the racino could be fully operational by 2027 but backed off that during questioning by commissioners. He said delays getting final approval have pushed back horse racing in Clovis until 2028, though casino gambling could and needs to be operating first since it funds horse racing purses.

FARMINGTON – The New Mexico Racing Commission has unanimously approved SunRay Park’s request to move its racino from Farmington to Clovis, a site nearly 400 miles away.

The commission’s vote came Tuesday during a special meeting after months of public discussion. San Juan County, the city of Farmington and Zia Park in Hobbs all objected to the move. However, in-house counsel Richard Bustamante said the commission's goal is to support what is best for the industry.

During a public hearing Friday, SunRay President Paul Blanchard said the move was necessary because of the number of casinos near Farmington, according to the Eastern New Mexico News. That saturation contributed to a 60% decline in revenue at SunRay, which dropped from $10 million in 2011 to $4 million in 2024, Blanchard said.

“There are six casinos located within 100 miles of SunRay,” Blanchard wrote in an email to The New Mexican. “The oversaturation of gaming has negatively impacted SunRay’s ability to generate sufficient horse-racing purses to entice racehorse owners and trainers to Farmington.”

New Mexico has five operating racetracks. The live racing season is underway at Sunland Park, followed by seasons at SunRay Park, Albuquerque Downs and Zia Park. Ruidoso Downs will run its upcoming season at Albuquerque Downs because of facility damage caused by flooding and torrential rains.

While Farmington or San Juan County could apply for a racing license to replace SunRay, NMRC Executive Director Ismael Trejo said the state’s current licensing structure is sufficient.

“I think we’ve made it clear that it's our policy to not pursue the sixth racing license anytime soon,” Trejo said. “The climate for more racetracks in New Mexico is not conducive to the best interests in racing at this time.”

SunRay Park is operated by Western Gaming LLC. The grounds are leased from the county under an agreement set to expire in 2028.

Devin Neeley, public relations manager for San Juan County, stated that plans are being made for the future of the grounds on which SunRay Park currently occupies.

“The racetrack, casino building, stables, and the land those buildings sit on are leased to Sunray by San Juan County, and the county is committed to working with the operators through the end of the lease,” Neeley wrote in a release posted on McGee Park’s social media page. “The San Juan County Fair and other events scheduled at McGee Park will continue. As the end of Sunray's lease approaches, San Juan County will be planning for the future of the land.”

Officials in San Juan County opposed the proposed relocation, saying they felt blindsided when the plan became public. The county estimated more than 100 jobs, many held by Native Americans, will be lost in a region that has struggled economically as Public Service Company of New Mexico transitions from coal-fired power to renewable energy.

“We’re disappointed that the commission moved forward in a very quick and non-transparent fashion to move this license,” said San Juan County Manager Mike Stark. “We believe that one community’s gain shouldn’t be another community’s loss. That sixth license should be a transparent process.”

SunRay management began the effort to move the license in October, when the NMRC provisionally approved the relocation. The proposal includes a new racetrack and casino complex on a 200-acre site along U.S. Highway 60. In November, the Clovis City Commission voted unanimously to support the move.

Racing dates for this year were set last fall, meaning SunRay’s scheduled dates at its current location will still occur. It remains unclear if the Clovis facility will be ready to open in 2027.

“It’s tough to say right now,” Trejo said. “We have to see what issues arise during construction, but the goal originally was to be ready for 2027.”

Blanchard said moving to Clovis is projected to generate up to $50 million in annual tax revenue, at least seven times the current amount. While the casino is expected to open before the track, live racing in Clovis likely won't occur until 2028.

Racinos are a major industry in New Mexico. The five existing operations generated $261.4 million in gross casino gaming revenue in 2024, according to the American Gaming Association.

SunRay Park is scheduled to host 18 days of live racing this spring, from April 17 to May 24. The meet typically includes both thoroughbred and quarter horse races. The track ran 18 dates in 2024 and 21 dates in 2023.

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The New Mexico Racing Commission unanimously approved Western Gaming’s request Tuesday to relocate its SunRay Park gaming license from Farmington to Clovis.

According to Eastern New Mexico News, the 3-0 vote followed months of debate and an hour-long executive session.

Senior legal staffer David Dominguez said the Racing Commission’s goal is achieving what is good for the industry.

Dominguez said a recent request by Zia Park in Hobbs to also build a racino in Clovis serves as evidence Clovis is a strong market and relocating would be best for the state horse racing industry.

Zia Park had joined Farmington and San Juan County in objecting to the relocation, asking for legal intervention that was rejected by the Racing Commission. The Commission granted preliminary approval last December.

Commissioners noted the hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls received both supporting and objecting to the move. About 100 Clovis-area residents traveled to Albuquerque on Friday to show their support.

“I think it’s a great day for Clovis,” said Tina Dziuk, executive director for Clovis Economic Development. “An increase in tourism will bring more revenue for quality of life projects around the city.”

Dziuk said she believes Amarillo and Lubbock residents will make up a “large portion” of the visitors to a Clovis racino.

Eastern New Mexico News says, Western Gaming partner Paul Blanchard said the move is necessary after 27 years in Farmington because of a 60% decline in revenue at SunRay. He said annual revenue has dropped from $10 million in 2011 to $4 million in 2024, blaming much of the loss on the proximity of other nearby gambling establishments.

Blanchard said projections show the move to Clovis will produce at least seven times more tax revenue each year for the state treasury — as much as $50 million.

He said delays getting final approval have pushed back horse racing in Clovis until 2028, though casino gambling could and needs to be operating first since it funds horse racing purses.

Opponents argued the Commission was moving too fast and suggested issuing a new, sixth racino license for Clovis instead. Commissioner John Buffington said only the governor could initiate a new racino license.

Commissioner Buffington noted that while opponents argued the move would hurt tribal gambling revenue, the Commission received a letter from the Navajo Nation endorsing the relocation to Clovis.