25 Years of Highlights at Remington Park

Built on the heels of an oil boom in Oklahoma City, Remington Park was first conceived and built in 1988 with the support of Edward J DeBartolo and the supervision of David M Vance.

A lot changed since then, and a lot has happened. Remington Park has seen more ups and downs than most businesses could ever imagine. The evolution of the horse racing industry, the development of Oklahoma City, and ever-changing legal issues have all contributed to a remarkable story of perseverance and success at Remington Park.

Remington Park, 1988

The grand opening in 1988 gave little doubt as to whether horse racing would find a prosperous home in Oklahoma City. Attendance was enormous and enthusiasm was growing every day. Remington Park became a popular daytime activity for families and thrill seekers alike from all over Oklahoma.

1991 saw the rise of Remington Park first celebrity. Clever Trevor was garnering national attention as one of the country’s most watched thoroughbred runners. Remington Park held the first ever Oklahoma Derby (then called the Remington Park Derby), fertilizing the grounds for Oklahoma bred race horses by allowing them to compete in their very own stakes race. Clever Trevor seized the spotlight and brought Remington Park into focus as a serious contender for some of the country’s best horse racing.

By 1992, four years after opening, Remington Park saw its highest ever attendance for a race day - reaching the 26,400 mark in late February.

The next year featured the first Oklahoma Classics, featuring a series of divisional stakes races for eligible Oklahoma-Breds. Brother Brown won the top race, the Classic. Five years after that, Big Daddy would beat AQHA world champion Winalota Cash, becoming Oklahoma’s first quarter horse to be voted the AQHA World Champion in both 1997 and 1998. Remington Park was taking off beyond everyone’s expectations.

It was just after this time that simulcasting began to bring the convenience of horse racing from all over the world into various local venues. Remington Park felt the impact of a curbed desire for live wagering, and attendance was starting to recede. A series of parent company transitions followed, as well as a revolving door of directors. By 2003, Remington Park was on the brink of closure.

Then, at the last moment, then-governor Brad Henry put Senate Bill 1252 up to vote. The bill proposed that Remington Park be allowed to operate gaming machines that were traditionally reserved for native casinos.

Casino Floor, built in 2005

The building of the Casino Floor in 2005 was a landmark event at Remington Park, saving Oklahoman horse racing from collapsing in on itself from the rapid changes in the industry on a national level. This act saved countless jobs of ranchers, trainers, handlers, owners, and jockeys - not to mention all the Remington Park personnel required to facilitate the live races.

Since then, Remington Park has seen a surge in interest in local horse racing, and has enjoyed a total of $50 million in renovations.

Remington Park now boasts a world-class casino floor, Oklahoma’s best horse racing venue, as well as multiple restaurants and some of OKC’s most anticipated annual events from Derby Day to Extreme Racing.

It’s truly amazing how far we’ve come since opening day in 1988. Remington Park has proven to be the picture of adaptation and perseverance in the face of rapidly changing economic and legal climates. We’re now proud to celebrate our 25^th year in business in our proud home of Oklahoma City.

We hope you’ll celebrate with us, and raise your glass to a quarter century of excitement, entertainment, and winning experiences in Oklahoma. Join us September 2nd as we kick off a special day of racing with lots to do and even more to win! 

More information on our 25th Anniversary Celebration, September 2nd, 2013: http://remingtonpark.com/LaborDay/ 

Remington Park is Oklahoma's #1 sporting entertainment destination. Unlike any other Casino in the area, we offer a unique blend of continually-updated casino games, live music, fine dining and both live and simulcast horse racing.