Suspected illegal horse track raided in Southern Oklahoma

THACKERVILLE - More than 200 state law enforcement officers swooped down late Sunday afternoon on a horse racetrack where illegal betting is suspected and arrested about 100 people - mostly Hispanics from Texas - on accusations they participated in the venture.

About 400 people were at the track in a rural area between U.S. 77 and Interstate 35, just southwest of the WinStar Casino, and about four miles south of Thackerville and near the Oklahoma-Texas state line.

When law officers raided the dirt track, it ended an undercover investigation lasting about a year.

Being convicted of operating an unlicensed horse racetrack in Oklahoma is a felony, said Constantin Rieger, executive director of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.

The operator of the track was identified as Jesse Romero, who reportedly lived on the property, Rieger said. Romero, who was leasing the land, was arrested on a complaint of operating an illegal racetrack.

Others were arrested on complaints of money laundering, racketeering and illegal gambling, Rieger said. Authorities did not identify the land owner, but said he had been dead about a year and his heirs lived in another state.

The property is southeast of Scott Road and is a mile north of the Oklahoma-Texas border.

Spectators were detained so authorities could check to see if they had outstanding warrants or were in the country illegally. Those with no problems were expected to be released. Those in the country illegally were expected to be detained.

Rieger said Sunday's racetrack raid was the first of its kind in Oklahoma.

Authorities believe several other tracks also are operating in the state. Investigations into those tracks continue, he said.

"Hopefully, it (Sunday's raid) sends a message to any others who are participating in illegal horse racing," Rieger said.

Rieger told reporters that investigators learned that races were held from about 2 p.m. until dark Sundays at the track near Thackerville. He also noted that spectators brought their children to the track, called the Red River Playgrounds, although no children were seen by reporters on Sunday.

The investigation showed that spectators paid $20 to get in to the track, and that thousands of dollars in cash changed hands at the track each week. About 70 horses from Texas were found at the track.

Rieger said the horses appeared to be in good shape, but they were not tested and no veterinarian was on the grounds, as is required at state-licensed tracks. Some drugs were found and tests will be done to see if they were used to enhance the horses' performances.

Initially, officials planned to take the horses to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. But later, authorities said they were unsure whether that might happen. The horses could be released to their owners instead.

Rieger said races held at the track were match races, usually between two horses running 200 to 250 yards down a straightaway. About 160 Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers along with agents from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the racing commission took part in the raid.

The Chickasaw Nation's police and federal immigration agents also participated. Most spectators remained calm when officers surrounded the track about 5 p.m. Sunday, Rieger said.

"It was a very coordinated effort," he said.

The patrol, which received federal approval to close air space over Love County on Sunday, flew two helicopters and one plane to help officers on the ground.

Patrol spokeswoman Kera Philippi said 15 to 20 people ran into nearby woods after officers arrived, but they were apprehended.

No injuries were reported and no shots were fired, she said. Three spectators suffered medical problems during the raid and were taken to an area hospital, where they were treated and released, she said.

About a dozen troopers lined the west side of I-35 just east of the track at the start of the raid. The troopers were armed with shotguns and semiautomatic rifles to prevent those at the track from running onto the interstate.

They also caught the attention of motorists. The action caused traffic on southbound I-35 to be backed up for nearly an hour.

Law officers had most of the operation completed by 7 p.m., although they expected to continue processing spectators late into the night, officials said.