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Horse track could be built in Oklahoma PanhandleHOOKER, Okla. (AP)--A group led by a southeastern Oklahoma developer has purchased land in the Panhandle with plans to establish what would be the state's fifth pari-mutuel horse racing track. The track, which would be known as Cimarron Downs, would be located on land along U.S. Highway 54, immediately northeast of the city limits of Hooker. A group known as CLSD LLC bought the 128.44-acre tract for about $150,000 in June, according to the Texas County Clerk's office. But both the developer, Floyd Drannon of Stratford, and state officials caution that it could be years before Cimarron Downs opens, if at all, because of changes that would have to be made in county and state law to allow its operation. "It's not an easy chore, but they would have them all over the place if it was easy," Drannon told The Associated Press. Four horse racing tracks now operate in Oklahoma--Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Fair Meadows in Tulsa and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore. All are located in counties in which pari-mutuel wagering is allowed. But it's presently not allowed in Texas County, and county residents would have to vote to change that. Supporters of the proposed track are trying to gather enough signatures on an initiative petition to place the issue on the November ballot. "The reaction from people has been really positive," said real estate agent Tangi Quesenbury of Hooker, who worked with Drannon's group on the land purchase and is assisting with the petition drive. "This would bring in people who would come in, spend their money and leave. It would put us on the map." District Attorney Mike Boring said that, while his office "does not have a position for or against the initiative petition," that, "generally speaking, law enforcement and prosecutors will have concerns when gambling seeks to come to our communities. I do not believe that Texas County would be an exception to this." Boring said if pari-mutuel wagering in the county is approved "and the horse racing industry establishes a presence here, then I am sure that law enforcement and my office will take all reasonable and necessary steps to deal with any and all issues that might arise in relation to it." The county vote would be only the first hurdle for Cimarron Downs. Those involved with the project would need to present their proposal for a track to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, said Constantin Rieger, the commission's executive director. At that time, "we start the vetting process," he said. Rieger expressed doubts about the project. "It's a huge chore to fire up a racetrack in this day and age," he said. "Where are the horses going to come from? Where is your money coming from? What kind of races are you going to run? What kind of purse structure will you have? All those questions will get asked. I'm not saying it couldn't be done, but it would be a lot of work." Drannon plans to address the racing commission at an Aug. 14 meeting. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Texas County at 20,238, with about 1,800 people living in Hooker. Drannon said the rural site was chosen to avoid competition from casinos operated by American Indian tribes and to be close enough to tap into a potential market in Amarillo, Texas, a town of about 185,000 people about 140 miles from Hooker. He also hopes to attract patrons from Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico, all of which border the Oklahoma Panhandle. The nearest track to the Panhandle is Dodge City Downs in western Kansas, about 100 miles from Hooker, although Cimarron Downs could theoretically face competition from another track that has been proposed for Tucumcari, N.M., about 185 miles away. The Panhandle is "about the only feasible place it would work in Oklahoma," said Drannon, who said his group spent "almost two years" investigating the viability of such a track. Drannon wants to have a casino at the racetrack. State Question 712, approved by voters in November 2004, allows the state's current tracks to operate casinos. Rieger said the law would have to be changed to allow Cimarron Downs to do so, although Drannon thinks the state Legislature would be amenable to the idea. State Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, said he thinks the Legislature could change the law, but that such changes might still have to be approved by state voters. Tentative plans call for the construction of a travel plaza, one or two motels and a theater for live shows to be built as part of the Cimarron Downs project. Drannon declined to give a firm dollar estimate for the project, other than to say that "when all is said and done, it will be worth $50 million." The project could be a boon for Hooker, where Smithfield Beef once planned to build a $200 million processing plant. Construction on that plant was supposed to begin in January 2007 but, after almost a year of delays, the company placed the project on indefinite hold. 8/25/08 Date: 8/21/08 Advertisement
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