About Us

Between 1891 and 1895, there were five “runs” (some commentators called them “horse races”) in Oklahoma Territory that offered 160-acre tracts of homestead land or town lots as prizes. The Unassigned Lands, 2 million acres in the central part of the territory, was the first area settled by this method. Less than half of those who participated in the race April 22, 1889 were able to claim one of the 10,000 available homesteads.

The fourth “run” was September 16, 1893 and attracted 100,000 land-hungry persons to race for 40,000 quarter sections in the Cherokee Outlet in the northwest part of the territory. Potential settlers gathered at nine locations for the noon “post time” – awaiting a gunshot from cavalry soldiers to start the biggest land rush in the United States. While a variety of forms of transportation were used to make the “runs” (as shown by this photograph of one of the starts of the “Run of ‘93”), horses were the most preferred. It was not surprising that the most desirable homesteads went to those who had the fastest horses.

After the final “run” May 23, 1895; the central and northwest parts of what became Oklahoma had been opened for settlement by such “horse races.” Almost one-third of the state’s 77 counties resulted from this method of distributing land.

When the original Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) was founded in 1940, it would be another 43 years before pari-mutuel wagering would be legalized in Oklahoma. But, that does not mean there was no horse racing in the Sooner state. Many county fairs had race meets and almost any weekend there were “match” races at storied “bush” tracks that are colorfully recalled by the dwindling number of old-timers who were there. But, this is not to say that Oklahoma horses and horsemen did not race elsewhere. In fact, Oklahoma horsemen have been a presence from the beginning at places such as Oaklawn Park, Ak-Sar-Ben and many other racetracks coast to coast.

In 1983 Blue Ribbon Downs (BRD) at Sallisaw - 20 miles from Arkansas - was the state’s first pari-mutuel racetrack. However, due to BRD’s remote location and primarily Quarter Horse racing, most Oklahoma Thoroughbred horsemen continued to race in other states.

Edward J. DeBartolo (at that time, the owner of Balmoral, Thistledown and Louisiana Downs) built Remington Park (RP) in Oklahoma City as a $100 million showcase for Thoroughbred racing. The inaugural race meet during the fall of 1988 was an opportunity for Oklahoma Thoroughbred horsemen to race in their home state and for horsemen from throughout the region to enjoy Oklahoma’s hospitality.

With so many of Oklahoma’s Thoroughbred horsemen having been HBPA members when racing in other states, it was logical for an affiliate to be formed. To represent everybody who races Thoroughbreds in the state, the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (OKHBPA) was incorporated as a non-profit association in 1993. For local/state identification purposes, the association has added a “dba” of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO). With more than 1,500 owner and owner/trainer members, the association’s mission is akin to that of the other affiliates… improve horse racing at all levels.

In general, this includes:

• Providing medical, dental and other benevolent assistance to members and their employees.

• Negotiating contracts with the racetracks. In addition to addressing the backside conditions, the OKHBPA takes seriously state law that requires agreements between the tracks and horsemen. “(Racetracks) shall negotiate and covenant with the (horsemen’s) representative … as to the conditions for each race meeting, the distribution of commissions and purses not governed by statutory distribution formulae, simulcast transmission and reception, off-track wagering, all matters relating to welfare, benefits and prerogatives of participants.” (O.S. 3A, Sec. 267)

• Granting permission for interstate simulcast signals to be received by the racetracks and, for where (out-of-state) the racetracks can send simulcasts of their races.

• Representing the interests of Thoroughbred racing to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission. • Influencing legislation at the state and national levels.