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OHRC VOTES TO ALTER SIMULCAST SPLIT AT FAIR MEADOWS
On April 10th at a meeting of the OHRC Racing Commission two issues vital to Oklahoma Thoroughbred horsemen were on the agenda. The first was a ratification of a draft order for Remington Park, and their request to change the simulcast split beginning March 12, 2007.
This issue had been debated at the March Commission meeting with a vote to allow Remington to make the change. Remington had told the Commissioners that in making the change it would not alter the purses advertised for Quarter Horse racing at the current meet. After listening to the parties involved in that change, the Commission voted that the Quarter Horse interests had no legal standing to challenge the change for 2007, until Remington failed to pay the purses as agreed. They ordered a draft resolution be completed stating that fact be made for approval at the April meeting. After an executive session the Commissioners voted to approve the final draft as written.
The second issue on the agenda involved the simulcast split at Fair Meadows. The issue was very intense as it would affect the amount of funds provided to the non thoroughbred breeds for the meet. After listening to presentation by the OQHRA, Fair Meadows and the TRAO, the Commissioners asked questions regarding the positions. The OQHRA stated the change would result in a loss of between $500,000 and $600,000 in their purses for the upcoming meet. It was asked of them what they intended to do with approx $1.2 million dollars of tribal gaming money that they had as unallocated for the year, in their Directive to OHRC in February. The answer provided was not very clear and stated they wanted the money for purses as FMT and BRD as stated. Thus if they lost the simulcast revenue, they had more than sufficient funding to maintain the purses at FMT that they felt they needed.
The Commission then went into executive session to discuss the issue and returned to the meeting room for the decision. A motion was made to change the split for 2007 at Fair Meadows to 80% Thoroughbreds 20% Mixed breeds. This would represent a change from the previous split of 50% TB 40% QH 10% Paints and Apps. The voted was the taken on the motion and was approved by a 5 to 4 vote in favor of the change. Voting for the change were Calvert, Grimmett, Barkett, Bledsoe, and Smicklas. Voting opposed to the change were Cole, Bowers, Bollenbach, and Spencer.
This change will increase monies available to thoroughbred horsemen in the state for 2007. How that money will be divided has of yet not been determined. Of course what occurs in 2008 will be decided in the next several months at all of the race tracks.
The TRAO was the main thoroughbred point organization, and the OTA provided support and input into the request for change. This is another example of the two groups working together to improve racing in Oklahoma and the funds available for racing and breeding.
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