Last week, the ownership group behind New York's Bonnie Castle Recreation Center announced that it is seeking the eighth and final harness racing license in the state and that it has plans to transform the centre into an

upscale racino and entertainment destination.

A report by the Watertown Daily Times explains that Marc Fernandez and Donald Cole, partners in Bonnie Castle Downs Inc., are looking to gain support for the initiative from area politicians.

"We've been talking to each other about this for the last 10 years and we finally said, 'It's now or never,'" Fernandez was quoted as saying. "The ice rink, restaurant, it's all going to stay. What we're going to do is renovate the recreation center and build a casino and a hotel with an entertainment and conference centre."

(With files from the Watertown Daily Times)