Rules change proposed for the state's three racinos

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Racetrack casinos would be allowed to offer the same electronic games as tribal casinos under new proposed rules by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.<br/><br/>The rules resulted

Friday, February 24th 2006, 11:36 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Racetrack casinos would be allowed to offer the same electronic games as tribal casinos under new proposed rules by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.

The rules resulted from complaints horsemen and officials at all three tracks had about an inability to move the most lucrative machines from tribal casinos to racetracks.

Oklahoma's three racinos opened last year.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the new rules at its March 23 meeting.

Meanwhile, Commission Chairman Randy Calvert intervened in a dispute between the commission and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore.

The track and the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association couldn't agree on the number of races the track will hold this year, its first season of racing since 2001.

Calvert called a 15-minute break and told Mark Enterline, the track's general manager, and Debbie Schauf of the quarter horses association to reach an agreement.

Both sides decided the racetrack will offer 11 races per day: two quarter horse, 1 paint or Appaloosa and eight thoroughbred races, Enterline said.