Blue Ribbon Downs

(Tulsa-AP) -- The new owners of Blue Ribbon Downs plan to have two live horse race meetings this year. <br><br>They want the first meeting to last from February 21st to May 1st and the second to last from

Tuesday, January 6th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- The new owners of Blue Ribbon Downs plan to have two live horse race meetings this year.

They want the first meeting to last from February 21st to May 1st and the second to last from August 6th to October 30th. They plan to have races for thoroughbreds, quarter horses, Appaloosas and paint horses.

Backstretch LLC bought the Sallisaw track in November. Backstretch is a subsidiary of the Choctaw Nation.

The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission will consider Backstretch's application after a public hearing on Thursday.

The racetrack's general manager, Frank Deal, also asked the commission for the money that the track earned under the former owner. The funds were not offered as purses because the track ended its 2003 racing season early.