The Choctaw Nation will shut down its commercial racetrack and electronic gaming facility on November 28.

The tribe purchased the Blue Ribbon Downs in 2003 for $4.25 million. The move drew controversy because the Cherokee Nation was planning to buy the failing facility.

The Choctaws at the time bragged of outsmarting the Cherokees but they were unable to sustain the operation. "We did our best and invested a lot of money to improve the local racing experience, but there just was not enough patron support to continue to operate the track," said spokesperson Judy Allen, The Tulsa World reported.

The tribe tried to sell the track earlier this year but the deal fell through. Allen said offers will still be entertained.

The track's 100 employees are being encouraged to apply for jobs at one of the tribe's expanded casinos.

Get the Story:
Choctaw Nation to close Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw (The Oklahoma Journal Record 10/23)
Closing the Downs (The Tulsa World 10/23)
Blue Ribbon Downs to Close Its Doors (KFSM-TV 10/22)