OQHRA

Oklahoma City, OK - February 15, 2017 -- Its time again for the annual OQHRA LEGISLATIVE DINNER at Heritage Place.   THIS EVENT INCLUDES A FREE DINNER and a cash bar. Please make plans now to attend this important event.    This is a family friendly event and if you are involved in racing you need to make coming and helping us tell the legislature how important the horse racing industry is to your way of life.  Bring your partners, or your neighbors if they are into racing too.  We will start serving dinner at 5:30 and legislators will be coming and going during the evening as this is not the only event for them on Tuesday evening, so if you can't get there until 6:30 or so that will work too.  We should be finished by 8:30 PM. 

We have invited the entire Legislature to attend and OQHRA is asking all of our members to please plan to come and eat supper with us at Heritage Place on Tuesday evening, February 21st from 5 to 8:30 PM....this year the menu will be slightly different but will still include an appetizer display with fresh jumbo shrimp and the main course will include a whole roast pig stuffed with orange glazed pulled pork, baby back ribs, smoked brisket, bourbon baked beans, mac and cheese, and pecan pie or apple cobbler. 

We would appreciate it if you would call and let us know how many will be attending with you, but reservations are NOT required and we encourage you to come, bring your racing friends, and enjoy dinner with the legislators.  (405-216-0440) 

If you don't know ahead of time, but see you can come, please plan to attend.  All we ask is that you plan to take time during the evening to visit with legislators about the importance of the horse industry.  Some talking points for your discussion are:

• HORSE RACING is not just about jobs at the racetrack, it's jobs at the breeding farms, training centers, and on may of the private farms and ranches of the owners and breeders that participate in racing.

• HORSE RACING generates OVER $20 MILLION Annually that goes to EDUCATION (88%)  and into the General Fund (12%) 

• Adequate funding for the HORSE RACING COMMISSION is critical to insure that the industry is  well regulated and free from corrupt practices.

• Ask legislators to VOTE YES on Committee Substitute for HOUSE BILL 1836 which will allow the racetracks to operate the same hours as the Tribal casino's in Oklahoma and will generate as much as $3 Million in additional funding for the State.  

• Ask legislators to VOTE YES on Committee Substitute for HOUSE BILL 1858 which will restructure the funding for the racing commission saving the State as much as $400,000 each year and will result in the horse racing industry funding all of the cost of operating the Horse Racing Commission and regulating the industry by using the fines, license fees, and income generated from racing and gaming instead of requiring the state to appropriate funds for operating the Horse Racing Commission.  

If you have any questions, or if you would like to know who your legislator is before Tuesday evening please give me a call.