BEHIND THE LENS Legislative Breakfast Will Rogers Downs, Claremore, Oklahoma October 16, 2020 • Story by Heather Ridgway Photos by Jana Thomason, Speedhorse

The OQHRA joined forces with the “They stayed upright out of the gate and they record handle of $7.2 million in one day. Cherokee Nation and Will Rogers Downs finished the race, and because of that, folks all Legislators were given a tour of the facilities to discuss key topics with Senators and across the United States got to see that there was and barns giving them the opportunity to speak Representatives from the State of Oklahoma at a possibility that they could keep going and keep with individuals who are directly affected by horse the Claremore, Oklahoma track on Oct. 19. running races.” racing. OQHRA led the officials around the barn During breakfast at the track, the legislators heard Deputy Chief Warner was also appointed to of Eddie Lee “Bubba” Willis where they were able from Deputy Principal Chief of the Cherokee the Tribal Advisory Committee for Center for to meet the horses, grooms and trainers, who were Nation Bryan Warner, Oklahoma Secretary of Disease Control in 2017. available to answer questions regarding impact Agriculture Blayne Arthur and Oklahoma Horse Through Sunday, Oct. 11, 158 Quarter horse racing has on their livelihoods. Racing Commission Chair Wendy Keener. Horse, Paint and Appaloosa races have been Deputy Chief Warner closed the gathering “Oklahoma stayed true to the course. The run with a total handle set at $2.7 million and a this way, “If anyone has been on the backside of horsemen and legislators, everybody got together daily average of $193,000. the track, it is the most diverse group of people and we set up COVID-19 mitigation efforts. They The spring Thoroughbred meet at Will you will ever meet. The seeds we plant today are followed them to a tee and Remington and Will Rogers Downs saw 287 races from March to for our future generations… Let’s prepare our Rogers Downs never stumbled,” Warner explained. May with a total handle of $131.4 million and a hearts to do this together.”

Left to Right: Rep. , Rep. , Rep. Shiela Dills, Deputy Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Bryan Warner, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor Janees Taylor, Oklahoma Secretary Of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor Keith Austin, Rep. Dean Davis, Rep. , Rep. , Rep. , Rep. Terry O’Donnell, Senator Marty Quinn and OQHRA Executive Director Kole Kennemer LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST PHOTOS BY JANA THOMASON, SPEEDHORSE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BR LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST PHOTOS BY JANA THOMASON, SPEEDHORSE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST LEGISLATIVE BR