Conditional approval given for gaming at Oklahoma horse tracks

Thursday, July 21st 2005, 1:35 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Two of Oklahoma's horse-racing tracks are a step closer to opening casinos after the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission agreed to conditional approval for gaming licenses.

The approval is for Remington Park in Oklahoma City and Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw. The commission postponed consideration of conditional approval for Will Rogers Downs in Claremore.

Officials say the next step is for the commission staff to prepare a report for commissioners to consider in giving final approval of gaming licenses.

Blue Ribbon officials say the track has a casino built and can begin operating within 72 hours of final approval. Officials with Remington Park say they've started construction of a casino and expect to be ready by Thanksgiving.

State voters approved a proposal last November allowing Remington to operate up to 650 electronic gambling machines and for Will Rogers and Blue Ribbon to operate up to 250 each.