KEENER ATHLETES ARE FIRST IN AS STABLE AREA OPENS FOR HORSES AT REMINGTON PARK

Remington Park opened its stable area this morning, allowing trainers to bring their horses in to ready for the upcoming American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season. Trainer Dee Keener was first to arrive, checking in well after the sunrise at 8:40am.

Keener brought a dozen in, traveling from his Inola farm. He plans to bring at least one more group of horses into Remington Park on Monday. He wants to go to the track with some 2-year-olds on Tuesday morning, the first day of training.

“I have a lot of Paints to get ready for the first futurity (Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa) in March,” Keener said as he made his way back home for another set of horses bound for Remington Park. “I also have about eight or nine Quarter Horses going into the Oklahoma Futurity trials that need to get on the track.”

The trials for both the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa futurities, take place during Remington Park’s opening weekend.

Keener, won both the Oklahoma Futurity and Heritage Place Futurity last year with Tres Crystals. The gelding became the first horse to win both of those futurities at Remington Park since 2006, when the Oklahoma Futurity first moved to Oklahoma City.

Keener had 31 wins during the 2022 Remington Park season. He was surprised upon learning he was the first on the grounds.

“I figured Tammy Johnson would already be here,” Keener said with a laugh. “I am surprised, since it is daylight, to be the first here.”

Johnson had been the first on grounds with horses for six consecutive years (2017-2022) after traveling from her Gatesville, Texas base just west of Waco, Texas, a little more than 300 miles from Remington Park.

Remington Park will open the main track for training on Tuesday at 7am.

The spring racing season will begin March 9, continuing through June 3.

Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $314 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 live racing returns March 9 with the start of the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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