Remington reaches compromise

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Racing Commission and Magna Entertainment, which operates Remington Park, reached a compromise agreement Thursday on what dates the track will race in 2003. Magna and the commission had been at odds over the 2003 schedule at the track since Magna had asked to drop its Quarter Horse meet last month.

At Thursday's meeting, Magna revised its dates request and offered to run a 20-date mixed meet for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds and a 50-day Thoroughbred-only meet. The commission, after a closed session that lasted more than two hours, instructed Magna on a 5-1 vote to race a 20-day mixed meet for Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, and Paint horses at Remington from Aug. 7 to Sept. 1, and a 50-day Thoroughbred meet from Sept. 5 to Nov. 30.

After the meeting, Corey Johnsen, who represented Remington in his new role as group vice president for Magna's properties in Texas and Oklahoma, said Magna may ask the commission to alter its decision slightly after Magna discusses the issue with horsemen's organizations.

The new Remington calendar reduces the number of both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse dates for 2003. The track is currently conducting a 76-day Thoroughbred season that runs through Dec. 21, and previously held a 34-day Quarter Horse meet from April to June.

The commission also awarded a 36-date Quarter Horse season in 2003 to Fair Meadows. It will be the first time since the track opened in 1989 that there will be no Thoroughbred racing