The Latest: Regulators ratify settlement in racino case

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on a legal dispute regarding New Mexico’s final racino license (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

The New Mexico Racing Commission has ratified a proposed settlement aimed at ending a legal dispute related to the state’s sixth and final license for a horse racetrack and casino.

The commission voted to approve the agreement with Hidalgo Downs after meeting behind closed doors Thursday. The commission did not make any public statements other than to say a special meeting would be called April 30 to discuss the racino license.

It would be up to a state district judge to approve the settlement.

Attorneys for the four other companies vying for the license want to intervene in the case.

They’ve raised concerns that the proposed settlement was presented to the court weeks ago without first being voted on by the full commission. They questioned whether open meeting laws could have been violated.

The commission contends that the panel’s chairman had authority to sign the settlement before it was voted on by commissioners.

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10:30 a.m.

A lucrative license to operate what will be the final horse racetrack and casino in New Mexico is still in limbo pending a legal challenge and regulators are reluctant to move forward.

The New Mexico Racing Commission is meeting Thursday in Albuquerque. While the racino license is on the agenda, commissioners aren’t expected to make any decisions.

At issue is a contested feasibility study on the economics behind the five pending proposals. One of the enterprises vying for the license, Hidalgo Downs LLC, contends the state hasn’t done enough to study the matter.

Hidalgo Downs is seeking to dismiss its complaint after reaching a proposed settlement that would prevent the commission from considering the study’s recommendations.

Attorneys for the other applicants have been fighting to intervene in the court case.