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March 28, 2024, 10:51:19 am
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Author Topic: 2 Million $ Subsidy for Fair Medows?  (Read 5546 times)
AMP
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« on: August 09, 2007, 10:34:53 pm »

Anyone read of a 2 Million Dollar Subsidy from the Indian Casinos for Fair Meadows?  

On another forum a person said, "The horse races are during the summer and because of a $2 million subsidy from the Indian Casinos it is profitable. They are not going to compromise that."

When and why did that occur?  I believe the Fair Grounds is a Public use facility and was intended as a Multi Purpose Event Center when the county tax payers made the initial investments by agreeing donating the land, then agreed to make further investments into the facility through two tax measures.  

My question is why is there only Horse Racing at the Grandstands now?  

And who's plan was it to pave the infield of the racetrack and place concrete curbs there where other types of events would be hampered?

Is the Grandstands and racetrack a single or multi purpose venue now?
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TulsaEx
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« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2007, 11:30:58 pm »

I believe it was a part of the Class III gaming agreement designed to save Oklahoma's horse tracks.  Remington Park, Will Rogers Downs and Blue Ribbon Downs were allowed to install slot machines, but they must subsidize Fair Meadows because no slot machines will be allowed to be installed there.
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AMP
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« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2007, 12:20:25 am »

How and why is the Racetrack at the Fairgrounds a single purpose facility.  I thought the Fairgrounds was a public use facility that should be providing Multi Purpose venues for various events.  By changing the surface of the racetrack and using sand that is the enemy of professional motorsorts, seems to limit the events that could and should be held there.

In Texas most of the public owned facilities are called MPEC, Multi Purpose Event Centers.  

Nice large Grand Stands at the Tulsa Fairgrounds, but only used a fraction of the year?  Why is that?  

http://www.liveisports.com/sample_race1.html
http://www.liveisports.com/sample_race2.html
http://www.liveisports.com/sample_race3.html
http://www.liveisports.com/sample_race4.html

Here is a sample of three forms of a dozen forms of motorsport and horse racing held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, which is located inside the City Limits in Springfield, Illinois.  This Fairgrounds and the citizens of the area paid to build another muiti purpose outdoor arena to host the AMA GNC TT and Short Track races in addition to the Mile Races.  They have three racetracks a 1/2 mile, Mile plus the Short Track/TT arena.    

Draws over 10,000 people from several states snd countries for these two annual events that last three days each, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Held on Labor Day weekend and Memorial Day weekend when folks are off work, able to travel and looking for good clean family entertainment.  

Because they use a multi purpose surface clay gumbo, they can race harness horses and motorspots, hold Destruction Derbies, Monster Truck Shows, Tractor Pulls and much more.  Sand is the enemy of all those types of attractions.  

Why not change the surface, along with the type of horse racing held there, so other attractions could co-habitate at the Grandstands Racetrack?  

The Harness Racing is much more colorfull as well.


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AMP
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« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2007, 12:35:29 am »



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RecycleMichael
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« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2007, 06:06:50 am »

Fair Meadows management negotiated to get the cash from thr tribes in exchange for not adding slot machines to the Fairgrounds facility.

It was a massive mistake in my opinion.

I don't play slots, but it could have meant that the horse racing facility would have had the attendance and action to be a real attraction. The management at the time said that government shouldn't be in the gambling business, but they already were in lottery tickets. The race track in Des Moines is owned by the state of Iowa and does very well.

At Prairie Meadows, I put a quarter in a slot machine while sitting right on the finish line watching a thorougbred race just to say I did it.
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dbacks fan
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« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2007, 09:28:17 am »

Tulsa Speedway in it's prime.......









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joiei
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« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2007, 10:17:59 am »

Have you ever lived near a motorsports racetrack?  It isn't all that great listening to basically unmufflered motors rev until LATE into the night while your children or yourself is trying to get to sleep.  I like the idea of Harness racing.
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TulsaEx
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« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2007, 11:13:25 am »

I also believe that when parimutual wagering was passed and Remington Park was being built, an agreement was signed that severely restricted the number of horse racing days allowed in Tulsa.  This agreement basically allowed Tulsa to have horse racing events during a two week run while the fair was going on.  

Now, Tulsa is allowed several more horse racing days, but there still might be might be some restrictions on the total number.

I remember the agreement because some large out of state group promised to build Remington Park as one of the premier tracks in the country, but it was determined that Oklahoma could only support one track of that caliber, so once again Tulsa was made to suffer for the benefit of Oklahoma City and the "perceived" benefit of the state as a whole.

Blue Ribbon Downs was allowed to have parimutual racing because it existed prior to the agreement.

Also, the car track was indeed converted to a horse track because of noise complaints from the surrounding neighborhood.
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dbacks fan
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« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2007, 12:48:47 pm »

quote:
Originally posted by TulsaEx

I also believe that when parimutual wagering was passed and Remington Park was being built, an agreement was signed that severely restricted the number of horse racing days allowed in Tulsa.  This agreement basically allowed Tulsa to have horse racing events during a two week run while the fair was going on.  

Now, Tulsa is allowed several more horse racing days, but there still might be might be some restrictions on the total number.

I remember the agreement because some large out of state group promised to build Remington Park as one of the premier tracks in the country, but it was determined that Oklahoma could only support one track of that caliber, so once again Tulsa was made to suffer for the benefit of Oklahoma City and the "perceived" benefit of the state as a whole.

Blue Ribbon Downs was allowed to have parimutual racing because it existed prior to the agreement.

Also, the car track was indeed converted to a horse track because of noise complaints from the surrounding neighborhood.



If I'm wrong some one correct me, but wasn't the owner of Remmington Park also the head of the horse racing commision in Oklahoma at the time it opened? I seem to remember some connection there.
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Conan71
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« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2007, 01:50:45 pm »

Unless my memory is wrong, the DeBartolo "Family" (catch my drift) was behind Remington Park.  I believe Eddie DeBartolo was the original figurehead and control was eventually transferred to his sister when he got a couple of his, uh, appendages caught in the vice in Louisiana, I believe it was.

I have no idea about the ownership or management of it these days.
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« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2007, 01:58:09 pm »

quote:
Originally posted by joiei

Have you ever lived near a motorsports racetrack?  It isn't all that great listening to basically unmufflered motors rev until LATE into the night while your children or yourself is trying to get to sleep.  I like the idea of Harness racing.




Yes I have and I loved it.....Put me to sleep on many Friday nights.....I knew which turns they were in by the sound.......There is no reason not to have Sprint Car racing at the Fairgrounds......
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dbacks fan
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« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2007, 01:59:54 pm »

quote:
Originally posted by Conan71

Unless my memory is wrong, the DeBartolo "Family" (catch my drift) was behind Remington Park.  I believe Eddie DeBartolo was the original figurehead and control was eventually transferred to his sister when he got a couple of his, uh, appendages caught in the vice in Louisiana, I believe it was.

I have no idea about the ownership or management of it these days.



Thanks Conan, it's coming back to me now. I did a search on him and at the same time he owned the SF 49er's.
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AMP
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« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2007, 05:08:33 pm »

The Racetrack at the Tulsa Fairgrounds was in place and racing long before the majority of homes were built around it.  Poor planning perhaps.  Or who was the Einstoned that allowed the construction of residential homes around an existing Fairgrounds?  

In the 1970's the Sprint Car races at the Tulsa Speedway at the Fairgrounds drew over 13,000 racefans on Saturday nights during their season.

The track employed over 50 staff members plus the 70 plus race teams that competed and earned part of their living by racing at the tack. Many businesses in the Tulsa area are in the Motorsports Industry. The removal of motorsports racing from the Tulsa Fairgrounds damaged many people who's lively hood depended on that track.  The Fairboard owned the concessions at the Speedway and did a major business on Saturday nights during the racing season.

Majority of the Fairgrounds I have been to in other states occupy an entire square mile or more.    



Tulsa Fairgrounds - You can see turn one and two of the racetrack in this photo at the top.  Note that 21st and Yale end at the intersection.  In other photos there are no homes in the area on either side of the Fairgrounds.  The Later photos show homes built and both 21st and Yale extending past that intersection with turn offs like exit ramps built to avoid waiting through a red light.  Prior to changing the traffic laws to allow  right turns after stopping on red.  


Tulsa Speedway at the Tulsa Fairgounds

This is an early photo of Tulsa Speedway at the Tulsa Fairgrounds.

Most other cities, Oklahoma City included have Industrial parks surrounding their Farigrounds.  State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City has been in operation for over 50 years at the Fairgrounds.

Just thinking outloud...

Perhaps Tulsa County needs to build their own Fairgrounds and sell the existing one in the City to the city of Tulsa.  The County could build one near the highway system with easy access and plan for industrial tracts only to be allowed surrounding it.  Up towards the Airport may be one loction.  I always thought parts of the Rock Quarry would be a great place for an amusement park, racetracks and water park.  Fiesta Texas is built in a Rock Quarry by Manhattan Construction Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma.



Today, people are spending big bucks to own a custom built Villa next to or on an existing race circuit.  Professional Motorsports Sanctioning bodies have noise limits and muffler requirements today.  Totally different from the old school stock car open header days.  

Here are some very nice Villas that are being constructed at The Motorsport Ranch in Cresson, Texas located south west of Ft Worth.  

http://www.motorsportranch.com/motorsport-gallery.cfm#id=MSR005&num=1
The Villas at Motorsport Ranch

http://www.msrhouston.com/
MSR HOUSTON Sister Facility in Houston Texas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Flags_Fiesta_Texas
FIESTA TEXAS


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USRufnex
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« Reply #13 on: August 10, 2007, 05:38:59 pm »

...I need a good conspiracy theory...

fairgrounds... taken from the county to the city... fair meadows... chris lincoln back at ktul... prospects for a new "legal" casino?... compare to Remington Park... rinse, repeat...

discuss.
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