Rieger stepping down as executive director of Oklahoma Racing Commission

Kelly Cathey was named interim executive director of the Oklahoma Racing Commission at a special meeting in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, according to the commission’s personnel director, Bonnie Morris. Constantin Rieger, who for the past 10 years has served as the organization’s executive director, submitted his letter of resignation last Friday, and it was accepted at the meeting Wednesday.

Morris said Cathey’s appointment takes effect immediately. Rieger asked to be placed on leave in his resignation letter, obtained through open records. Ran Leonard, chairman of the Oklahoma Racing Commission, would not comment on the reason Rieger resigned. His resignation is effective Sept. 2. Rieger was not available through the commission offices Wednesday.

“Tino has been a valuable asset to the commission for just over a decade,” Leonard said. “We wish him well in whatever he moves on to.”

Cathey, 44, has been a steward in Oklahoma the past two and a half years but said he would not be working in that capacity while serving as interim executive director. Cathey, a native of Temple, Texas, is from a racing family. He spent nine years working as a racing official at Retama Park near San Antonio, then seven years as director of racing for Will Rogers Downs near Tulsa, Okla.

“I’ve been involved in racing since I was 16,” said Cathey, who started out as a groom.

The commission on Wednesday authorized Leonard to appoint a search committee for a new executive director. Rieger was assistant executive director of the Louisiana Racing Commission before assuming the executive director position in Oklahoma.