The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission is joining opposition to the Oklahoma City casino sought by the Shawnee Tribe.

The state agency wants Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to end the project before any decisions are made. Sen. Tom Coburn, Sen. Jim Inhofe, Rep. Mary Fallin and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett -- all Republicans -- also want the casino killed.

The tribe's 104-acre site is 1.7 miles from the Remington Park racetrack. The tribe says both facilities can co-exist.

The tribe, formerly a part of the Cherokee Nation, was recognized by an act of Congress in 2000. The law appeared to give the tribe the ability to open a casino just about anywhere in Oklahoma.

After word of an Oklahoma City casino surfaced in 2005, lawmakers introduced a rider to make it harder for the tribe to acquire land.

The bill became law but the tribe believes it has a good case for acquiring the Oklahoma City land. Greg Pitcher, the head of the tribe's economic development arm, appears to be arguing that the tribe qualifies for a "restored" and/or "newly recognized" exception in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Last month, the Bureau of Indian Affairs finalized new regulations to guide the Section 20 process. Restored or newly recognized tribes must demonstrate connections to the gaming site.

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Horse industry races to stop casino plan (The Oklahoman 6/1)
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