Gordon Hare, OHRC executive director, said the rule change must now be approved by Gov. Brad Henry.
"We hand carried it to the governor this afternoon," Hare said Friday afternoon.
He explained that the rule change, which will allow newly-purchased racetracks to apply for a racing license after the June 1 deadline, will allow Backstretch LLC, new owner of Blue Ribbon Downs, to apply for a 2004 racing license.
"But we have to wait on the governor's signature," Hare said. "It's in his hands now. Hopefully, our arguments were sufficient to convince him to sign the rule change."
Frank Deal, Blue Ribbon Downs general manager, said Backstretch LLC was happy about the OHRC's amendment of the rule, and the racetrack will probably ask for between 60 and 70 live race days in 2004.
Choctaw Assistant Chief Mike Bailey said, "It's been a great day for Backstretch LLC, and also for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma."
Bailey said Backstretch LLC will most likely begin preparing the license application next month.
Hare said the license application process usually takes several months because the state's three racetracks apply at the same time. Complications also arise when the racetracks or the horsemen disagree on aspects of each track's license, such as overlapping race dates.
The Backstretch LLC application may not take quite as long. Hare said, "In this case, Fair Meadows and Remington Park have already been approved for race days...so Blue Ribbon Downs is aware of those dates." This could simplify the application process, Hare said.
"I don't anticipate, assuming there are no problems, that the dates proposed by the new owners (of Blue Ribbon Downs) would be objected to by anyone," Hare said. "It's possible a license could be issued within a few months...barring other problems."
Backstretch LLC purchased Blue Ribbon Downs from previous owner Race Horses Inc. on Oct. 31, and filed the deed and paid off a Race Horses Inc. loan to the City of Sallisaw on Nov. 3.
The Sallisaw racetrack was to be auctioned off in a sheriff's auction Nov. 4 through a foreclosure procedure initiated by the city because Race Horses Inc. had not made a payment on the loan since 2001.
The deadline to file an application for 2004 live race days was June 1, which Backstretch LLC missed because of the late purchase of the track.
Debbie Scauf, Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association executive director, said the association and Backstretch LLC would ask the OHRC to amend the rule to allow those who purchased a racetrack after the deadline to submit a race-date application after the deadline.
"This would avoid the impact of having Blue Ribbon Downs dark (not conducting live racing) in 2004," James Kirk, Backstretch LLC attorney, said. Kirk submitted the change in the OHRC rule to the commission.
Robin Akers, public relations director for Blue Ribbon Downs, said Friday plans are underway for the annual horsemen's banquet, at which the horse owners and horses of the year, are announced.
She said renovations have also begun at the racetrack.
The horsemen's banquet is now scheduled for New Year's Eve, Akers said. Tentative plans for that evening also include bullriding and concert events, featuring country and western singing stars.
"We are planning a celebration," Akers said.
Akers said Backstretch LLC has begun renovations at the track. "We had contractors in looking at the barns last week," Akers said, "and they have begun replacing the carpet in the clubhouse."
Bailey said Backstretch LLC may ask the Choctaw Nation for $1 million to $2 million to renovate the track.
Without a license, Backstretch LLC was forced to hold trials for the Grade II Black Gold Championship and for the Mistletoe Allowance on Nov. 8 and 9 as non pari-mutuel races, meaning no wagering is allowed. The finals for the two races are being held at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Simulcast racing also ceased at Blue Ribbon Downs due to the lack of a license. Judy Allen, spokeswoman for the tribe, said the Choctaws are reopening their simulcasting center at their Pocola casino. Bailey said simulcast-wagering revenues at the Pocola casino will be used at Blue Ribbon Downs.
