Officials Oppose Shawnee Tribe Casino

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn and Congresswoman Mary Fallin have voiced their opposition to plans by the Shawnee Tribe top build a casino along Interstate 35 north of Remington Park.

Joe Lucas, president of the horse racing association, said, "Almost all of our industry centers around Remington Park."

Lucas said if the Shawnee Tribe is given the green light to build a $400 million entertainment resort next to Remington Park, it'll be a serious blow to Remington and to the horse racing industry of Oklahoma.

"We believe strongly that if this thing comes into reality, then we're done," Lucas said.

Lucas is urging politicians and the public to participate in the Bureau of Indian Affair's 30-day public comment period. The bureau will consider the comments when it decides whether or not to place this non-tribal land near I-35 and Remington Park into trust for the Shawnee Tribe.

The land is in Fallin's congressional district. "Well, the problem is that the tribe is located in northeast Oklahoma and they want to move into central Oklahoma City into the unassigned land area which would set a precedent for other tribes to come and take that land into trust," Fallin said.

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