Fair Meadows Race Track

[Shelby]

Ok, ok, I know ya'll are getting sick of me asking questions about tracks around the country. I'll try not to do this again, but I did a search and nothing came up.

Fair Meadows is in Tulsa, OK. Anyone been there?

[witchdoctor]

Been there many a time. It is a 5 furlong bullring. Half the races are quarterhorse races and the other are thoroughbreds. When I first got to Tulsa, the races were well attended. Now there are usually 1000-2000 people will be at the races. A good description can be found here.

http://www.mcchump.com/html/hotrace1.htm

[DSB]

My daughter worked at Ok. State for a time and we all went there once while visiting.

It's reminds me a little of Timonium - basically a small fair track.

I remember walking into the place and seeing a brown horse with big white spots and streaks all over flying by on the outside to win.

I thought "what the hell was that? I have never seen a racehorse like that before!"

Turns out the race was for T-breds, Appaloosas and Paints.

Funny thing. I'm sitting here wearing my Fair Meadows T-shirt that I got on that visit.....

[Track Collector]

I have visited FMT several times, but not recently. Temperatures at night were very warm and humid. They did offer 11-13 races a night then, and some of the QH races were for 870 yds, so at least not the quick 220, 250, or 300 yds. For some unknown reason, my wife likes this track. I guess that means I can schedule another "family" vacation in that area! :)

[Run Nicholas Run]

like those 870's "around the elbow"
as Boomer likes to say at Yavapai downs,
which as of now is only 26 days away :cool:

[witchdoctor]

Interestingly, FMT does not write QH races of 400 or 440 yards because that would require them to go around the hook.

[Shelby]

My daughter worked at Ok. State for a time and we all went there once while visiting.

It's reminds me a little of Timonium - basically a small fair track.

I remember walking into the place and seeing a brown horse with big white spots and streaks all over flying by on the outside to win.

I thought "what the hell was that? I have never seen a racehorse like that before!"

Turns out the race was for T-breds, Appaloosas and Paints.

Funny thing. I'm sitting here wearing my Fair Meadows T-shirt that I got on that visit.....

Lol, that's an odd coincidence --guess my vibes decided to make you wear that lol.

We saw the Appaloosas and Paints run for the first time at Remington a couple of weeks ago. Better not blink, or you'll miss the whole race.

Thanks everyone for your input! I think we might run down there this weekend and bet the races on Saturday.

[Shelby]

Been there many a time. It is a 5 furlong bullring. Half the races are quarterhorse races and the other are thoroughbreds. When I first got to Tulsa, the races were well attended. Now there are usually 1000-2000 people will be at the races. A good description can be found here.

http://www.mcchump.com/html/hotrace1.htm

Hey thanks! I'm reading through it right now.

[witchdoctor]

Fair Meadows is NOT running yet. I think they open in June. Right now, live racing is in Claremore at Will Rogers Downs. Basically WRD is a casino that also runs races. The track is a mile oval. We will probably running a horse there on May 9th and 16th.

FMT has a nice simulcasting facility but it is crazy on Derby day.

[Shelby]

Fair Meadows is NOT running yet. I think they open in June. Right now, live racing is in Claremore at Will Rogers Downs. Basically WRD is a casino that also runs races. The track is a mile oval. We will probably running a horse there on May 9th and 16th.

FMT has a nice simulcasting facility but it is crazy on Derby day.

Yeah, I knew it wasn't open. Just looking for somewhere fairly close to watch and bet the races Saturday.

I hope your horse wins!!

[Bettowin]

Will Rogers Downs has simulcasting and live racing on Saturday.

http://www.cherokeecasino.com/Casinos/WillRogersDowns/TheRaces/tabid/179/Default.aspx

[boomman]

like those 870's "around the elbow"
as Boomer likes to say at Yavapai downs,
which as of now is only 26 days away :cool:

Actually I say: around the "bend" not elbow LOL....I called the races at Fair Meadows Tulsa for 10 years. Nice 5F facility with no elevator to the announcer's booth which can result in a really brutal walk in the hot Tulsa summers...the double (AA) farm team for the Texas Rangers (were the Tulsa Drillers when I was there) is located literally right next to the racetrack in the same facility known as Expo Square and in the old days before a larger net was installed, we literally used to get foul balls on the racetrack. As for Yavapai's opening, I enjoyed my time there immensely but was laid off by them in a budget cut earlier this year so will not be at the mic for the 1st time ever in their history when they open May 23.............

Boomer

[witchdoctor]

One of my favorite calls there was "They're running down Yale one last time." (That is the name of the street that runs along the backstretch.)That occured during a marathon race where they went for 3 laps. I guess I wasn't the only one who like that call as someone named their horse Runnindownyale.

Some of the other things done at FMT include:

1. A 5.5 furlong race for Paints and Apps. None of the horses had ever run more than 870 yards before that. Everyone thought it was a misprint in the form. The race was won by a 60-1 shot that literally staggered home.

2.A quarterhorse match race championship in which the horses were seeded 1-16 and then match raced 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, etc similar to the NCAA tournament. The winners advanced and race every 2 weeks thoughout the meet. Before the first round you could bet the exacta.

3.Who could forget Harvey Wallbanger the racing bison?

4. Until PETA started picketing there used to be annual ostrich and camel races. The jockeys had to ride the ostrichs bareback out of the staqrting gate. If they fell off, the ostriches would attack them. Maybe PETJ (People for the ethical treatment of jockeys) should have been protesting.

[Shelby]

Will Rogers Downs has simulcasting and live racing on Saturday.

http://www.cherokeecasino.com/Casinos/WillRogersDowns/TheRaces/tabid/179/Default.aspx

Ooooooh this may be the winner right here!