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Association and the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma stating that the racetrack would hold live racing in 2013. Fair Meadows had not, however, signed and returned two licenses issued by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission to hold live racing in 2013.
Upon hearing of the signed agreements with the horsemen’s associations, the fair board reconvened once again on Dec. 12. In a third meeting on the subject, they voted to defer a decision on the naming agreement at the request of Creek Nation Principal Chief George Tiger, and to sign the license that will keep live racing at Fair Meadows in 2013. The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission called a special meeting on Dec. 17 and unanimously accepted the racing license, which also permits Fair Meadows to operate its own simulcast facility.
The decision only guarantees live rac- ing will be held at Fair Meadows is 2013. Beyond that, the future is murky. Expo Square’s president and CEO Mark Andrus told the Tulsa World, “After the board meet- ing, it is our intent to race in 2013. I don’t know what will happen after that.”
OQHRA Executive Director Debbie Schauf, who fought tirelessly alongside TRAO Administrative Liaison Joe Lucas to save live racing at Fair Meadows, said, “We would like an opportunity to show them that maybe their perception that they were losing money was not an accurate perception. I would like to work with them to show them that they can make a lot of money off this race meet and do good for all of Oklahoma.”
Following the fair board’s vote to continue live racing, Schauf and Lucas
met with Secretary of State Glenn Coffee, state Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese, and Steve Mullins, general counsel for the Governor’s Office, to discuss the implica- tions of ending live racing in Tulsa as well as the terms and conditions of the compact that helps fund the state’s purse accounts at all racetracks.
“The main thing that I would like people to take away from this is the threat was the end of live racing as we know it at Fair Meadows, but there were really two issues involved,” said Schauf. “The first was the loss of the live races themselves at Fair Meadows, and the other was the apparent lack of understanding of what the compact requires as far as the exclusivity payment to the horse industry, which does not go away if Fair Meadows does not race. When the
Gaming Act was passed, the three tribes that are within 20 miles of Fair Meadows were given an exclusive right to have gaming machines in Tulsa country and not compete with the racetrack, which is a government- owned entity. For that right, they made two sets of exclusivity payments—$2 million
to Fair Meadows and $6-8 million to the horsemen. What we were able to avert was having either one of those things go away. We didn’t lose the races, and now we didn’t lose the money.”
The work isn’t done yet, says Schauf, whose goal is to clarify the language in the Gaming Act so there will be no misunder- standings regarding the exclusivity pay- ments in the future.
“When we met with the Governor, we questioned two things. One, how do we clarify the law so we don’t have this misun- derstanding on the exclusivity payments in the future. And two, we believe the tribes have not paid the existing exclusivity pay- ments in the past 2-3 years in accordance with the Act. We have asked them to launch an investigation into the payments by the tribes and how they are paying the money now. The Governor’s office has agreed to do an investigation into both.”
“The governor and her advisers believe the horse racing industry has raised important issues concerning the closure of Fair Meadows, the future of racing
in Oklahoma, and the compact and law governing payments into a statewide purse for Oklahoma horsemen,” said Gov. Mary Fallin’s spokesman, Alex Weintz, in a Dec. 18 article in the Tulsa World. “Governor Fallin values the horse racing industry’s contribution to the economy and will work with all interested parties to work our way through these most recent controversies.”
One of the most positive things that came out of the potentially catastrophic situation was the reaction from the horsemen—both Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred. Schauf said she was most buoyed by the show of support from the state’s horsemen, and the ability of everyone to work together.
“As the spokesperson and the official representative of the horsemen, it makes
me really feel good that the breeds can
join together without arguing and that the horsemen can come out and help themselves by showing their support. That part was absolutely great. We’re all strong when we all stand together.”
SPEEDHORSE, December 28, 2012 37