STORY ON THE DECISION TO TRY TO MOVE THE LICENSE

HASTINGS, Neb. — The entity that possesses the horse racing license in Hastings says it plans to move the license to Ogallala, effectively ending plans to build a casino and horse track in Adams County.

A news release says Hastings Exposition and Racing, Inc. submitted its racing license application to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission on Tuesday with plans for the move. Spokesman Brian Jorde says the company’s plan is to establish a multi-track quarter horse racing circuit in western Nebraska. The company will partner with Elite Casino Resorts, which owns Grand Island Casino resort among other casinos, to invest $100 million in a racetrack and casino resort on a proposed 174-acre site in Ogallala.

If approved, the move would leave Hastings without a racing license for the first time since before 2004. It’s a sharp change for the Hastings Exposition and Racing, operated by Brian Becker, after it spent much of 2022 lobbying the Hastings City Council to approve plans for a casino and racetrack on the north edge of town. The council rejected the plans last March but approved a slightly altered plan in November. Chickasaw Nation was proposed as the gaming partner in the March plan but the Hastings company presented plans without a gaming partner in November.

“There are over 79,000 Quarter Horses, with over 13,500 owners in Nebraska, most in western Nebraska,” Becker said in a news release. “We look forward to highlighting the valuable role these Nebraska bred horses have played in our history and growing Quarter Horse racing in our state as well as attracting new owners and Quarter Horses from other states.”

The release says the development will be called Lake Mac Casino Resort & Racetrack. If approved, it would have a 5/8-mile racetrack with a 400-stall testing and receiving barn. The resort would include 180 hotel rooms with a pool and spa, an event center, dining options, a sportsbook with simulcasting, a large-scale travel center and an RV park. The casino floor would include 650 slot machines, 20 live tables, and a poker room.

“We are honored to be chosen to be part of the Keith County and Ogallala communities, as well as partner with Hastings Exposition and Racing to move their existing horse racing license to western Nebraska, where the opportunity to capture out-of-state business is strong,” Elite Casino Resorts CEO Dan Kehl said.

Becker says he plans to establish a racing circuit between Ogallala and Gering, where he plans to have a second racing facility.

The casino is still in the design stages. The release did not mention a timeline for construction.