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Raton
Regroups, primary goal is to see horse racing return-
Special report by PETE HERRERA ALBUQUERQUE, NM - April 14, 2011 - TThe Raton “Red Shirts” were back, a clear message that they haven’t given up on the idea of horse racing returning to the northeast New Mexico community. Some two dozen Raton residents and civic leaders attended Thursday’s New Mexico Racing Commission meeting in hopes of influencing the governing body to select Raton for the state’s sixth and final racino. The Raton project is now in the courts. The Racing Commission earlier this year informed Canadian investor Michael Moldenhauer he no longer holds a valid racing license. Moldenhauer also has lost his gaming license, which is required for the casino end of the racino. But Moldenhauer is appealing on both fronts — in state District Court in Raton in the case of the racing license — and he has a pair of appeals pending on the revocation of his gaming license by the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. The Racing Commission, with four new members, took no action at its latest meeting. The five members, who are working on getting up to speed on the Raton matter, discussed the various aspects of the case in executive session. Afterward, newly elected Commission Chairman Rob Doughty III said the commission’s attorney had advised the commissioners not to comment on the discussions that were held behind closed doors. Doughty said he wasn’t sure what the next step will be and noted the Racing Commission had not yet received a notice from Moldenhauer’s attorney of the pending appeal. The previous Racing Commission seemed ready to re-open the application process for the sixth license, but that apparently is now on hold because of the legal proceedings that are pending. Among the Raton delegation was Raton City Commissioner Charles Starkovich. He told SureBet he and others in his community remain in support of Moldenhauer, but noted their primary goal is to see horse racing return to the city. They would be willing to back another investor if Moldenhauer is ultimately out of the picture. “We will support any investor, whether it is Mr. Moldenhauer or future investors to return racing to Raton,” Starkovich said. “That’s the overall and most important support we can give anybody. Secondly, we will continue to fully support Mr. Moldenhauer in any effort he does, either through litigation or eventual resolution. He will ultimately have to decide whether to continue to invest (and) build the racetrack. If he doesn’t, then we’ll move on to the next investor. But he’s our main focal point right now.” Starkovich said Moldenhauer “has been good to the community.” Moldenhauer was awarded the licenses to build the Raton racino two years ago, but the project has been mired in construction delays, missed deadlines and questions over Moldenhauer’s financial resources to complete the project. |
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