New Mexico racetracks preparing to reopen casinos

New Mexico racetracks are preparing to reopen their casinos as quickly as next week after a reduction in coronavirus cases in the state led government officials to allow an expansion of indoor businesses, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office on Wednesday.

Sunland Park, which canceled the remainder of its 2020-21 race meeting earlier this month, said it plans to reopen its casino on March 5. Other tracks are expected to open their facilities in March.

The New Mexico State Racing Commission is tentatively scheduled to meet in an emergency session on Thursday to discuss the resumption of racing.

There has been no racing in New Mexico since the conclusion of the Zia Park meeting on Dec. 23. SunRay Park is scheduled to run its meeting from April 23 to May 24, while Ruidoso Downs is scheduled to run from May 21 to Sept. 6.

Those tracks need casino revenue to help fund purses.

SunRay Park canceled its 2020 meeting because of the pandemic. Ruidoso Downs operated its meeting last spring and summer at a financial loss, with a limited ontrack customers.

Ruidoso Downs is located in Lincoln County, which was reclassified on Wednesday from the most restrictive red tier to the yellow tier. A continued decline in positivity rates would allow county businesses to be placed in the more favorable green or turquoise tiers, allowing for greater capacity of indoor businesses, such as casinos.

In the yellow tier, Ruidoso Downs can accommodate 33 percent capacity for it casino, or approximately 125 customers, according to track general manager Jeff True.

There is a possibility Ruidoso Downs could reduce its racing schedule from a planned 50 days to 44 or 47 days, eliminating some Fridays, True said. The track may open its stable area on April 15 and conduct schooling races for Quarter Horses from May 3-5, he said.