OKLAHOMA CITY – Trainer Dee Keener, the winner of the most Paint races in history, was the first through the Remington Park gates on Monday morning, the first day horses were brought into the backside for the 2024 Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa race season that starts March 7.
It was the second year in a row Keener has been first. Last year, he broke trainer Tammy Johnson’s six-year streak that she had held through 2022 of being the first to arrive. She would show up at midnight the night before in anticipation of the opening of the gates. Oh, how things have changed. Keener pulled up at 9:30 a.m. this morning and still was the first through.
“Yeah, I was kind of surprised that I was first when they told me that,” Keener said. “I had gotten a late start, galloping horses at home.”
Keener ships in from Inola, Okla., located about 30 minutes east of Tulsa. He brought six horses with him this morning to the stable area where he has been assigned 40 stalls this meet. He was helped by the daughter of his former hauling partner Ronnie Spurlock.
“Kelsey helped today because Ronnie had to go in for open-heart surgery,” said Keener. “She has been a real help when I really needed it. By the time the day is over, we will have 30 horses here (at Remington Park). We will haul about five trailers over here and still be home by 6 p.m.”
It takes Keener about four hours round-trip from Inola to Oklahoma City each time.
Even though he is known for passing the all-time legendary late, great Paint trainer Lewis Wartchow, to gain his nickname of King of the Paints, Keener’s biggest moment of his racing career came in 2022 when he won the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity with a Quarter Horse named Tres Crystals for now-97-year-old owner Elizabeth Logan of Haskell, Okla.
“She’s still going strong,” said Keener of young-at-heart owner. “I’m training more of her horses this year. With her, I have a couple of 3-year-olds, a 4-year-old and four 2-year-olds.”
One of the horses Logan owns that will be back for Keener this meet is the 3-year-old Deck Stack, a gelding who won his Heritage Place Futurity trial at Remington Park, but did not qualify fast enough to make the finals. He did run second in the $100,000 Heritage Place Juvenile Stakes, winning $18,987 in the process. He hasn’t won since that trial race, but did make an effort to qualify for the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in the mountains in New Mexico. He ran fourth in that trial against some of the best 2-year-old Quarter Horses in the world.
If you look at breeding alone, Keener could have some nice ones in his barn this year.
“I have some by Apollitical Jess, four Quarter Horses by Flying Cowboy 123, two Paints by him, and two Apps by him,” said Keener. “I have a couple of FDD Dynasty’s also.”
He hasn’t forgotten his Paint legacy either. He has several Paints in his barn by the most prolific Paint sire in recent history, CRM Livewire. He also has some by stallion Painted Turnpike, who won 26 of 31 races in his career for earnings of $465,442.
“I’m not sure what we have this year,” said Keener. “We will have a better idea after training races (which start Feb. 14). I’ve worked some from the gate at my ranch a couple of times and we have some that can run. I have a four-horse gate at the ranch, which has a one-mile oval. I can work them comfortably about 200-250 yards.”
Keener said he would probably gallop a few on Tuesday, the first day the Remington Park track opens for workouts. He said he would step it up to breezing on Thursday and Friday this week.
•••••
Remington Park has provided more than $344 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Fair Meadows Overnight Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625 *(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)* Post time 6:00PM ... ’Expand’See Less
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you,
However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred.
The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well.
Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse .
Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size.
He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances.
If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this
, we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Trainer Dee Keener, the winner of the most Paint races in history, was the first through the Remington Park gates on Monday morning, the first day horses were brought into the backside for the 2024 Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa race season that starts March 7.
It was the second year in a row Keener has been first. Last year, he broke trainer Tammy Johnson’s six-year streak that she had held through 2022 of being the first to arrive. She would show up at midnight the night before in anticipation of the opening of the gates. Oh, how things have changed. Keener pulled up at 9:30 a.m. this morning and still was the first through.
“Yeah, I was kind of surprised that I was first when they told me that,” Keener said. “I had gotten a late start, galloping horses at home.”
Keener ships in from Inola, Okla., located about 30 minutes east of Tulsa. He brought six horses with him this morning to the stable area where he has been assigned 40 stalls this meet. He was helped by the daughter of his former hauling partner Ronnie Spurlock.
“Kelsey helped today because Ronnie had to go in for open-heart surgery,” said Keener. “She has been a real help when I really needed it. By the time the day is over, we will have 30 horses here (at Remington Park). We will haul about five trailers over here and still be home by 6 p.m.”
It takes Keener about four hours round-trip from Inola to Oklahoma City each time.
Even though he is known for passing the all-time legendary late, great Paint trainer Lewis Wartchow, to gain his nickname of King of the Paints, Keener’s biggest moment of his racing career came in 2022 when he won the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity with a Quarter Horse named Tres Crystals for now-97-year-old owner Elizabeth Logan of Haskell, Okla.
“She’s still going strong,” said Keener of young-at-heart owner. “I’m training more of her horses this year. With her, I have a couple of 3-year-olds, a 4-year-old and four 2-year-olds.”
One of the horses Logan owns that will be back for Keener this meet is the 3-year-old Deck Stack, a gelding who won his Heritage Place Futurity trial at Remington Park, but did not qualify fast enough to make the finals. He did run second in the $100,000 Heritage Place Juvenile Stakes, winning $18,987 in the process. He hasn’t won since that trial race, but did make an effort to qualify for the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in the mountains in New Mexico. He ran fourth in that trial against some of the best 2-year-old Quarter Horses in the world.
If you look at breeding alone, Keener could have some nice ones in his barn this year.
“I have some by Apollitical Jess, four Quarter Horses by Flying Cowboy 123, two Paints by him, and two Apps by him,” said Keener. “I have a couple of FDD Dynasty’s also.”
He hasn’t forgotten his Paint legacy either. He has several Paints in his barn by the most prolific Paint sire in recent history, CRM Livewire. He also has some by stallion Painted Turnpike, who won 26 of 31 races in his career for earnings of $465,442.
“I’m not sure what we have this year,” said Keener. “We will have a better idea after training races (which start Feb. 14). I’ve worked some from the gate at my ranch a couple of times and we have some that can run. I have a four-horse gate at the ranch, which has a one-mile oval. I can work them comfortably about 200-250 yards.”
Keener said he would probably gallop a few on Tuesday, the first day the Remington Park track opens for workouts. He said he would step it up to breezing on Thursday and Friday this week.
•••••
Remington Park has provided more than $344 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625
*(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)*
Post time 6:00PM ... ’Expand’See Less
14 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
20 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐫-𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
2 days ago
Comment on Facebook
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you, However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred. The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well. Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse . Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size. He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances. If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this , we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
Who get the samples from the horses and when
How actual fuck did we ever get to this point?
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