Tucumcari, N.M., may be in the running again for a horse-racing track and casino license after Raton apparently has frittered away its license after winning it two years ago, according to an article in the Quay County Sun.
Tombari expressed confidence in Tucumcari’s ability to overtake the racing and gaming licenses originally granted to the city of Raton in 2008.
“They’re ultimately going to lose that license, and then it’s a matter of what happens to this remaining license … and we think that (the state) probably will re-bid that license. I don’t know if it’ll be the whole shenanigan and the whole big process that we did a couple of years ago, but I’m putting you on warning that it could,” Tombari told the crowd. “All I can do is hope that you guys put in the same kind of level of support and effort that you did a couple of years ago, because if it’s anything like that again, I think we’ll win easily.”
Raton was supposed to open a race track and casino, but didn’t. It looks increasingly likely the state will void Raton’s license in the coming weeks, giving Tucumcari an opportunity to make a bid for it again.