Oklahoma City losing major horse show

Tuesday, October 11th 2005, 6:22 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Just days after one major horse show agreed to extend its contract with Oklahoma City, officials with the National Appaloosa Show say they plan to move the show to Mississippi when its contract expires in 2007.

Frank Larrabee -- the group's president -- says Jackson, Mississippi and several other cities offered free use of arenas and thousands of dollars worth of financial incentives.

The group pays more than $100,000 a year to host the show in Oklahoma City.

City Manager Jim Couch says the city wasn't willing to pay to host the show.

Voters approved an increase in the city's hotel tax last year for a $55-million renovation of the horse barns at State Fair Park.

On Saturday, the Morgan Horse Association agreed Saturday to extend its contract with the city through 2012.