Downs postpones move to Moriarty

OFFICIALS HAD HOPED TO MOVE THE RACE TRACK AND CASINO TO MORIARTY AND RUN THEIR FIRST RACE IN AUGUST OF 20-10 BUT THE PLAN HAS COME TO A SCREECHING HALT AFTER PROBLEMS PILED UP KAYLA ANDERSON IS LIVE OUTSIDE THE DOWNS WITH THE TOP STORY MORIARTY NEEDED 4 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO SEAL THE DEAL BUT NOW– EYEWITNESS NEWS FOUR HAS LEARNED THAT– THAT MONEY– HAS FALLEN THROUGH SO DOWNS OFFICIALS ARE ASKING THE STATE TO EXTEND THEIR LEASE HERE NEAR LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL WHERE THE FACILITY HAS STOOD SINCE 19-85 THE IDEA TO MOVE THE DOWNS FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO A NEW 65-MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY IN MORIARTY TORE THROUGH THE GATE IN APRIL OF 2008 NOW AFTER A QUICK SPRINT THE IDEA HIT THE WALL DOWNS PRESIDENT DON COOK SAYS NOT ONLY DID THE INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY FALL COLLAPSE BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER SNAG WITH A HUGE GAS PIPELINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE MORIARTY PROPERTY SO THE DOWNS AND IT S 300 EMPLOYEES WILL STAY PUT– AT LEAST FOR NOW COOK SAYS IT S DISAPPOINTING THE PLANS FELL THROUGH BUT THE RACE ISN T OVER YET THE LONGTERM PLAN– IS TO STILL MOVE THE DOWNS TO MORIARTY– MAYBE IN 2012 OR 2013 AT THAT POINT IT LL STILL BE UP TO MORIARTY TO COME UP WITH THAT 4 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS REPORTING LIVE FROM NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE KAYLA ANDERSON EYEWITNESS NEWS 4 MIDDAY