Remington opening meet with 12 races

Remington Park's first meet under new owner Global Gaming, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation, will get started Friday night with a 12-race card of trials for Quarter Horses. The 50-date season will run through May 31.

Global Gaming purchased Remington and its casino from Magna Entertainment Corp. for $80.25 million last year, with the deal receiving final approval from the Oklahoma Racing Commission in December. Since the new ownership has taken over, there have been improvements made to the grandstand, among them an opened-up track-level area to create more room for patrons.

"Fans will notice a difference when they walk in," said Remington's announcer, Dale Day.

Remington on Thursday was to unveil a life-size bronze statue of retired trainer Jack Brooks in its paddock area. He is an eight-time winner of the All American Futurity. The statue is part of the track's Hall of Fame.

Remington will offer 28 stakes worth $4.4 million during its Quarter Horse meet. The richest is the Grade 1, $1 million-estimated Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. The Grade 1, $750,000-estimated Remington Park Futurity is April 17.

Other top stakes include the Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Championship on May 29, a race in which the winner will receive a berth into the Grade 1 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in December.

Purses at the meet are projected to average $265,000 a day.

There will be a special early first post of 5:30 p.m. to accommodate all the trials on Friday.