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Kelly Cathey Named Executive Director For Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission
Kelly Cathey has been named Executive Directors for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.

© Courtesy NewsOK
Kelly Cathey Named Executive Director For Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—NOVEMBER 20, 2015—The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission voted Thursday to name Kelly Cathey as the agency's new executive director.

Cathey, 45, of Jones, had been serving as interim executive director since August, when former executive director Constantin “Tino” Rieger resigned.

"My father was a horse trainer," Cathey said.

Cathey said he accepted his first job in the horse racing industry at age 14 and has continued to work around horses ever since, initially in Texas and later in Oklahoma.

"I've kind of come up through the school of hard knocks," he said. "I've had every job that you can imagine besides a veterinarian."

Groom, assistant trainer, assistant starter, racing official and assistant racing official are among the jobs he held in Texas, where he worked at Retama Park, Lone Star Park, Sam Houston and Manor Downs.

In 2005, Cathey accepted the position of racing secretary at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, and later was promoted to director of racing.

In 2012, he accepted a job with the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission to serve as a steward at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. He worked there until accepting the interim director's position in August.

Protecting the integrity of horse racing and building up the industry in Oklahoma will continue to be high priorities, Cathey said.