Last week the Mexican Supreme Court found in favour of the Federal Government, represented by the local gaming regulators at the State Department (Secretaría de Gobernación - Segob) on its longstanding battle to close the Ciudad Juarez Hippodrome, close to the southern US border. The betting permit in favour of operators Cesta Punta Deportes(CPD) was first revoked by Segob under close order No. UG/211/1272/2003, dated 26 November, 2003.

At the time, José María Guardia, president of CPD, appealed at the local judiciary and was granted an injunction against the Segob order by means of an Habeas Corpus protection sentence, which enabled the operators to carry on business at its 9 gaming outlets over the last six years.

Earlier this year, Guardia had approached foreign investors and gaming operators to off-load his aggrieved company, or at least operate jointly in the new lucrative Mexican gaming market. However, this seemingly final setback for CPD will frighten away any potential investors in the Ciudad Juarez race track, as the contract for the property has been terminated and handed back to the country's Real Estate Institute, which now must decide on the fortune of the US border race and dog track. (E-07.14.09)

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