Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs host 28 days of racing
CLAREMORE, Okla. – For the first time in its four-year history, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is hosting a racing meet in the fall.
Beginning Thursday, Will Rogers Downs will feature 28 days of quarter horse, Appaloosa and Paint races through Nov. 14. Following this week, racing will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“This is the first chance we’ve had to host two meets, and we took advantage because it means so much for our track and the surrounding communities,” said Kelly Cathey, racing secretary for Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. “With the addition of this meet, we now have more than 60 days a year when people are coming to Claremore and horsemen are buying supplies, locally.”
The racing schedule features 25 stakes races, including this weekend’s Kansas Jackpot Futurity Finals, Black Gold Division II Futurity Finals and the Don Steele Memorial. Other stakes races in the coming weeks include the AQHA Adequan Derby Challenge Finals – Grade III, AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Finals – Grade III and Black Gold Division III Futurity Finals.
“The stakes races we’re hosting are loaded with a lot of talented horses and jockeys, which means they will be very competitive and a lot of fun to watch,” Cathey said. “There is more than $1 million being awarded in all of our stakes this fall, which brings a lot of attention from horsemen all over the region.”
The Downs is also the place for pari-mutuel wagering, with more than 100 television screens airing racing in spacious simulcast viewing rooms.
Throughout the fall, racing fans can stay late and enjoy numerous free concerts, including country star Joe Diffie on Oct. 1. The Dog Iron Saloon will also show all the biggest NCAA and NFL games on multiple screens.
Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is located three miles east of Claremore on Highway 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeestarrewards.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.