Navegante picks up endorsement in Aqueduct bid

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Las Vegas-based Navegante Group picked up an important endorsement in its bid to operate a casino at the Aqueduct Race Track in New York City.

The Minority Business Leadership Council of New York urging the governor to select Aqueduct Entertainment Group for the license. Navegante, which is operated by gaming veteran Larry Woolf, is the casino-operation component in the partnership.

Navegante is one if six casino operators seeking the license for a casino that will house 4,500 video lottery terminal slot machines at historic Aqueduct. Wynn Resorts, MGM Mirage, Harrah's Entertainment, Penn National Gaming and the Seminole Indian Tribe-operated Hard Rock are seeing the license.

"The partners in Aqueduct Entertainment Group have the best track record among all the bidders of delivering business opportunities for the local communities in which they've built," James Heyliger, the co-chairman of the council said in a statement. "(The) bid represents an historic opportunity to advance minority and women owned business in New York State."

The council, comprised of 15 local and minority business associations throughout New York, reviewed the bids for the Aqueduct casino. The council said Aqueduct Entertainment "would deliver the most by way of revenue for New York, community benefits for Queens and opportunity for minority and women owned businesses."

New York Gov. David Paterson will select the license holder.