Hubbard’s Group Plans Track in New Mexico

R.D. Hubbard, the former chief executive officer at Hollywood Park and the current owner of Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, and his partnership have been granted a license by the New Mexico State Racing Commission to build and operate a track and casino near Hobbs, N.M. Hobbs is in the southeast corner of the state, about five miles from the Texas border.

By a vote of 3-1, the commission granted Hubbard and his partners, who include Los Alamitos owner Ed Allred, former Los Alamitos employee and current Ruidoso Downs President Bruce Rimbo, and Paul Blanchard, the president of The Downs in Albuquerque, the license over three other applicants. The license was awarded conditionally, pending the awarding of a gaming license by the state’s Gaming Control Board when it meets on Dec. 2.

To be called Zia Park, the $43-million project will include a racetrack for quarter horses and thoroughbreds, a casino, a simulcast facility and a hotel. The group hopes to have the casino operating as early as November 2004, and to have racing by the fall of 2005.

“It would have been a disaster to have a third party running against us,” Hubbard told Associated Press. “Now we can work on racing days and cross promotions. “The main thing is, we are horse people and we convinced [the Racing Commission] of that. We didn’t just come in and want to build a casino. I’ve been involved in racing for 40 years.”

-- Bob Mieszerski