Remington track report

Remington Park is moving closer to opening a casino. The track received preliminary approval of its gaming license application from the Oklahoma Racing Commission last week, and a conditional license order could come up for adoption at the next commission meeting Aug. 11. Blue Ribbon Downs also received preliminary approvals last Thursday.

"It's a step further along than we have been before," said Gordon Hare, executive director of the commission.

Hare said that after the commission adopts a conditional license order, the tracks have a period of time to accept it, and when they do, they are then considered licensed. Gaming was approved in a referendum last November.

Representatives of Magna, which owns Remington, told commissioners that the target opening date of its casino has been pushed back about a month to around Thanksgiving. The track is putting $32 million into construction of a casino on the second floor at Remington.

* Monty Roberts, who is known as the Horse Whisperer, will speak at the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association's annual awards banquet and auction on Saturday. The event will be held at the Oklahoma City Marriott.

During the banquet, divisional champions will be named. The finalists for OTA's horse of the year are Abbi's Choice, Cheyenne Breeze, and George Taylor.