Racing awaits gaming bump

Friday, June 10, 2005 | 9:49 a.m.

TULSA, Okla. -- Electronic gaming machines appear to be coming soon to Oklahoma's horse racing tracks.

Three state tracks have applied for gaming operator licenses and the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission is establishing infrastructure to support those operations. Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore have each applied, said the agency's executive director, Gordon Hare.

Fair Meadows in Tulsa agreed not to seek electronic gaming in exchange for sharing revenue from expanded Indian gaming operations.

Hare said if all of the information requested by the commission is forthcoming, licenses could be issued in July.

Will Rogers Downs can be ready to offer the electronic games within the next 60 days, said Mike Miller, a spokesman for the Cherokee Nation, which owns the track. The tribe it pumping _$2 million into upgrading operations at the track to make them comparable to other gaming facilities, Miller said.

The track expects to hire 100 people along with the 18 already on staff, Miller said.

Blue Ribbon Downs has told the commission that it can offer games within five days of receiving its license, Hare said. Remington Park told the agency it could be offering games by Oct. 28, he said.