Track sues state and developer over selection of nearby casino in the Finger Lakes region

A Finger Lakes thoroughbred racetrack with video lottery terminals has filed a lawsuit against New York officials for selecting a nearby casino they claim will siphon off customers.

The Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack filed a lawsuit against the state board that in December selected Lago Resort & Casino just off the Thruway in the Town of Tyre as one of three recommended sites for an upstate casino. Lago's developers also were named in the lawsuit filed last Friday in Albany.

The Finger Lakes track claims Lago would cannibalize revenues from surrounding establishments and that the siting board didn't uniformly follow its own rules. The planned $425 million Lago casino site is about 25 miles east of the existing Finger Lakes track.

There was no immediate comment from state regulators or from Lago.