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[Ibanez]

I want to open a race track in Eufaula and call it Eufaula Downs.

[Townsend]

Lawmaker wants Fair Meadows closure probed

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20121120_16_A9_CUTLIN585645

State Rep. Don Armes asked Gov. Mary Fallin and Attorney General Scott Pruitt on Monday to investigate the proceedings surrounding the closing of Fair Meadows racetrack.

"This is about greed and the willful and blatant disregard of the rule of law and should not be allowed to stand," Armes, R-Faxon, said in a news release.

The fair board voted unanimously - and without comment - earlier this month to end live racing at the horse track as part of a lucrative naming rights agreement with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

The agreement not only ends live racing at Fair Meadows but takes away millions of dollars in purse money that had been used to supplement purses at racetracks across the state.

The fair board - formally known as the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority - includes the three Tulsa County commissioners and two appointees.

County Commissioner and fair board Chairman Fred Perry said Monday evening that he didn't receive the news release until after 7 p.m. and wasn't prepared to comment.

The county commissioners have said previously that they didn't know that the decision to end live racing at Fair Meadows would take purse money from other Oklahoma racetracks.

Without a license to hold live races, Fair Meadows will not receive the $2 million a year it was getting as part of a 2005 agreement with the Creek, Osage and Cherokee tribes. The funds were paid in lieu of installing gaming machines at the racetrack.

The same agreement obligated the tribes to pay into a fund that went to Oklahoma's thoroughbred and quarter horse associations to supplement purses statewide.

That part of the agreement is also nullified as part of Expo Square's agreement with the Creek Nation.

The purse fund averaged $6.8 million a year between 2007 and 2011.

In his news release, Armes states that media reports have revealed that fair board and Expo Square officials "routinely used a secretive and deceitful process to shield their true agenda, thus hiding the devastating economic consequences of their actions from the public until it was too late."

Armes said he wants the Attorney General's Office to determine whether any laws were broken as well as the legal implications of what he describes as the "extra-constitutional action by the fair board."

Armes is also asking Fallin to direct the Department of Commerce to recommend quickly how the Legislature can reverse or limit the economic consequences of the fair board's action.

Horsemen around the state say they were never consulted before the fair board made its decision and that the loss of the purse money will devastate an already struggling industry.

Tino Rieger, executive director of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, said previously that the commission was never notified of the deal.

The state Legislature's official website lists Armes' profession as auctioneer, broadcaster, farmer and rancher. Faxon is in Comanche County.

Contacted late Monday, Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said the governor would comment on the issue later.

Pruitt's office did not respond to a call from the Tulsa World seeking comment.


Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20121120_16_A9_CUTLIN585645

[Townsend]

Racetrack closure to be voted on again, says Perry

http://tulsabusiness.com/business_news/racetrack-closure-to-be-voted-on-again-says-perry/article_8ac4cc2e-3a65-11e2-8d0c-001a4bcf6878.html#.ULfbMtlN4I8.facebook

[patric]

Racetrack closure to be voted on again, says Perry

http://tulsabusiness.com/business_news/racetrack-closure-to-be-voted-on-again-says-perry/article_8ac4cc2e-3a65-11e2-8d0c-001a4bcf6878.html#.ULfbMtlN4I8.facebook

While the probe is being pushed by a lawmaker with a personal financial interest in the game, it probably needs to go ahead regardless of what the Fair Board does to retreat from the spotlight.

[Townsend]

TW FB post:

Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief George Tiger said Tuesday that the tribe does not intend to continue paying into the state horsemen's purse fund now that Fair Meadows Racetrack has ceased live horse racing.

[DolfanBob]

I want to open a race track in Eufaula and call it Eufaula Downs.

Now that's funny right thur. Kinda like saying Oologah Dam real fast.

[Townsend]

Tulsa Fair Board About Face: Live Horse Racing Continues In 2013

http://www.newson6.com/story/20308532/fair-board-about

TULSA, Oklahoma - The Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority - commonly called the Fair Board - is revisiting the idea of live horse racing at the fairgrounds.
Although authority members voted December 6 to end horse racing as part of a new agreement with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, they now say the 2013 race meet will take place.

The reason? Fair Meadows Race Director Ron Shotts signed agreements in October 2012 with the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred Associations to conduct the race meet in 2013. A race meet consists of 400 horses races over a 34-year period.

Shotts did so "without the knowledge or consent of the TCPFA Board or legal counsel," a news release states.

"I apologize to all parties for any inconvenience and take full responsibility for my actions," Shotts said in the release.

"The agreements, which I have executed for many years, were commonplace for receiving the annual racing licenses."

Commissioner Fred Perry, who chairs the fair board, requested a special meeting to address the issue. It will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, December 12, 2012. The authority will consider the continuation of live racing for 2013 and a new naming rights agreement with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation) which does not include the end of live horse racing.

The release includes an apology to the Creek Nation from Fair Board Chair Fred Perry.