Blue Ribbon comes down

Demolition work at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw began this week and Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, who has history with BRD, said he could not be more excited.

The demolition work, by American Demolition of Tulsa, will include removal of the former Racino building and the grandstands, and is expected to take about 90 days, according to Cherokee Nation Business (CNB) which oversees the business end of the tribe.

While Cherokee Nation has not provided any details of what may be planned for the site as of yet, Warner said the next step involves a feasibility study to determine how the site can best be used to not only benefit the tribe but also the community of Sequoyah County.

“Although feasibility studies can be costly, we want to be certain of how the tribe can receive the best return from the investment so we’re looking at all possibilities,” Warner said.

Warner said he has many fond memories of BRD from growing up and spending a lot of time with his family there.

“We ran a lot of race horses there. My heart is in this place and I’ve always wanted something to be done with the place since 2015 when I was first elected to serve on the council,” he said. “I’m just glad there are plans for improvements. The old Racino buildings where the Choctaws operated their casino will be demolished. The building is just very old and unsafe.” Warner said the track will remain at BRD for horse training purposes.

James Thornton, director of Cherokee National Parks said BRD falls under his department and oversees the site and other parks such as the one on Dwight Mission Road.

“We are continually evaluating ideas for future development at this site (BRD). It is important we take this step now so that it is ready when its future use is identified,” Thornton said.

CNB reported demolition began Wednesday but Thornton said demolition work actually began on Tuesday.

Blue Ribbon Downs was purchased by CNB in 2009, according to CNB and consists of nearly 100 acres located near Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 64.

Past reports indicate Blue Ribbon Downs began when Bill Hedge, a local horseman, with a dream of owning land for match races, bought 102 acres just west of Sallisaw in 1960. The track soon became known as a proving ground and gained recognition from the American Quarter Horse Association in 1963. Hedge sold the track to an investment group in 1973.

Hedge was the first inductee into the Blue Ribbon Downs Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2010.

In 1982, voters in Oklahoma approved pari-mutuel betting and the first pari-mutuel race at BRD was held Aug. 30, 1984, before about 12,000 spectators in a “sweltering” temperature above 100 degrees. Blue Ribbon made history by becoming the first pari-mutuel track in Oklahoma.

One former employee, Tonya Maxwell, remembers when BRD held Derby Day after pari-mutuel betting began and attendance was at around 20,000.

“I can’t remember the exact date but it was after pari-mutuel betting began,” Maxwell said.

According to reports, the advent of legal gambling at the track caused a local construction boom with motels, restaurants and other businesses locating in Sallisaw and near the track.

Over time, the popularity of gambling on horse racing waned and the track struggled financially with several owners filing bankruptcy in 1997 and again in 2002.

In addition to the investment group, the track was also purchased by Ralph Shebester before it was sold to the Choctaw Nation in November 2005 in one report, while another reported the tribe purchased the site in September 2003. A new state law which legalized Class III gambling allowed the Choctaws to convert the track into a Racino. The tribe operated the Racino for about five years before deciding to sell the property because the “facility wasn’t meeting expectations.”