Quarter Horses saddle up as the 2026 fall racing season kicks off at Will Rogers Downs

The starting gates are officially swinging open for the start of the 2026 American Quarter Horse Association racing season at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. The 28-day meet runs through Nov. 17, bringing higher purses and some of the region’s fastest Paint, Appaloosa and Quarter Horses back to the Claremore track.

The 2026 Will Rogers Downs fall racing schedule features average daily purses around $150,000. Racing will be conducted regularly on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Sunday racing beginning on Sept. 27, creating a three-day race week. First post will be at 12:00 p.m.

"The return of Quarter Horse racing this fall at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs figures to be well received,” said John Lies, director of racing for Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. “Last fall we experienced an increase in field size, and the strength of our stall applications and trainer feedback indicate we may be able to take another step forward in delivering more competitive, high-quality racing our fans have come to expect in Claremore.”

Three sets of trials for American Quarter Horse Association championship races will be offered in the first week, including Distaff Challenge Trials, the Juvenile Challenge Trials and the Derby Challenge Trials.

Overnight purses have been increased across the board for all races, including the Miss Ellen Stakes and the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) Fall Classic, which both move from $24,000 to $30,000 for 2026.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, will close out the season with a final schedule that includes the $15,000-Added Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Futurity Championship Final, the $25,000-Added Mystery Derby Final, and the Black Gold Futurity Championship and the Black Gold Fillies Futurity Championship, both with a $123,750-Added purse.

For more information on the 2026 Quarter Horse racing season at Will Rogers Downs, visit https://www.cherokeecasino.com/games/horse-racing.

With more than 250 games, live music, heart-pounding horse racing action and impeccable service, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is your source of entertainment. The casino and track are both located three miles east of Claremore on Hwy. 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.

About Cherokee Nation Entertainment

Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the gaming and hospitality company of the Cherokee Nation. What began as a small bingo hall in Roland, Oklahoma, has evolved into one of the region’s largest and most dynamic gaming and hospitality enterprises, generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue, employing over 4,000 people, and welcoming more than 10 million visitors each year. With more than three decades of experience delivering world-class entertainment, CNE owns and operates the renowned Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa and nine Cherokee Casinos throughout Oklahoma, including a racino, three resort hotels, a championship golf course, and a variety of dining, retail and entertainment venues. CNE also operates Gold Strike Casino & Resort in Tunica, Mississippi, one of the most recognized gaming destinations in the Mid-South. As a key economic engine for the Cherokee Nation, CNE is deeply committed to improving the lives of Cherokee citizens and strengthening communities through job creation, cultural preservation and reinvestment in vital services. For more information, visit HardRockCasinoTulsa.com, CherokeeCasino.com and GoldStrike.com.

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