The New Mexico Racing Commission has advanced plans that could bring a new racino to Clovis, supporting a proposal to transfer the SunRay Park racino license from Farmington to the eastern New Mexico city.

CLOVIS, NM, OCTOBER 24, 2025–The New Mexico Racing Commission (NMRC) has advanced plans that could bring a new racino to Clovis, supporting a proposal to transfer the SunRay Park racino license from Farmington to the eastern New Mexico city. While not a final approval, the move marks a significant regulatory milestone toward the potential relocation.

NMRC Executive Director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo confirmed that a formal public hearing in Clovis will be the next step in the process, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to voice their opinions before the commission issues a final decision. The hearing date is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Developers have outlined plans for a 200-acre entertainment complex just east of Clovis along U.S. 60/84, featuring a modern oval racetrack, 3,000-seat grandstand, hotel, casino, and RV park. The project would also provide 1,340 stalls for racehorses.

SunRay Park and Casino President Paul Blanchard said the proposed move is based on racing economics, not dissatisfaction with Farmington. “We’re down 17 days. We have days up there where we literally have zero amount bet,” Blanchard said, adding that the Clovis site could generate roughly $14 million annually in state tax revenue.

Trejo noted that Farmington’s proximity to tribal casinos has hampered SunRay Park’s performance, while Clovis offers an open market with room for industry growth. The NMRC anticipates that relocating operations could strengthen purse structures and increase race days statewide. If approved, racing in Clovis could begin in spring 2027.

San Juan County Manager Mike Stark expressed frustration over the proposal’s late notice, warning that the move could cost Farmington roughly 120 jobs. “It would have an extremely huge economic impact,” he said.

Meanwhile, Clovis Mayor Mike Morris praised the proposal as a sign of investor confidence in the city’s future. “I’m a free market guy. I’m pro business,” Morris said. “This is a seasoned professional New Mexican businessman seeing Clovis as somewhere he wants to invest and grow.”

Not everyone shares the enthusiasm. Tucumcari attorney Warren Frost, who previously pushed for a racino in his city, called the development “disappointing” after decades of effort to secure a license there.

The proposal is currently in a 45-day public comment period. After that, the NMRC will review submissions and decide whether to approve the license transfer. If the commission gives its final approval, Clovis would become home to New Mexico’s newest racino by 2027—marking a major shift in the state’s racing and gaming landscape.

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