Horse Track Raided

Sunday, July 29th 2007, 7:23 pm

By: News On 6

THACKERVILLE, Okla. (AP) _ Authorities raided a horse racing operation suspected of running illegal races near the Texas border Sunday in the culmination of an undercover investigation. Between 300 and 400 people were at the southern Oklahoma track for the races, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown said.

Brown said there would be ``many arrests'' but it was too early to give a number. She said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol had contained the surrounding area to prevent anyone from fleeing and had set up portable fingerprinting stations to help process the arrests.

``It's an illegal operation, no matter whether you're betting on the horses or running the thing,'' Brown said.

Brown said the raid was being led by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, with help from the OSBI, the highway patrol, the attorney general's office and Chickasaw Lighthorse Police.

A briefing with further details was expected later Sunday.

Brown said Spanish-speaking undercover agents were sent about six months ago to infiltrate the operation, which she called about ``primarily Hispanic.''

``This is a culmination of basically a yearlong investigation,'' Brown said.

Watch the video: Illegal Horse Racing Operation Busted