Under the original agreement, which was approved unanimously without comment by the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority, live horse racing at Fair Meadows, a track located on the eastern edge of the fairgrounds, would end. However, officials with Fair Meadows signed agreements with Oklahoma’s two largest horsemen’s associations to have live races at the Tulsa track during the 2013 season.
TULSA, Okla. – In light of a potential breach of contract, the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority will reconsider a naming rights agreement with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, the authority will meet at 4 p.m. to consider an amended naming rights agreement with the tribe and the continuation of live horse racing after learning that officials with Fair Meadows signed agreements with Oklahoma’s two largest horsemen’s associations to have live races at the Tulsa track during the 2013 season.
“When confronted with this new information, it was imperative to take aggressive and timely action,” authority Chairman Fred Perry said in a statement Monday. “I believe it is appropriate to follow the terms of the agreements regarding the 2013 race meeting, which is why I have requested a special meeting to address the issue.”
Under the original agreement, which was approved unanimously without comment by the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority, live horse racing at Fair Meadows, a track located on the eastern edge of the fairgrounds, would end, thus cutting out millions of dollars in gaming compact funds that were used to supplement race purses at tracks across Oklahoma. The Tulsa track alone received about $2 million annually from the Osage, Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) nations.
Since the original deal was signed, questions have arisen of whether the three tribes would still be obligated to pay into the purse fund. Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief George Tiger has said that his tribe would not, while the Osage and Cherokee nations have said they would as long as they are legally obligated to.