Sallisaw Racetrack Eyes Area Turf Fans

Blue Ribbon Downs is marketing itself to Northwest Arkansas racing fans.

The track, about 20 minutes west of Fort Smith on U.S. Highway 40 in Sallisaw, Okla., has a capacity of about 3,000 people and apparently many of them are coming from Fort Smith, Fayetteville and as far north as the Missouri border.

Michelle Loftis, Blue Ribbon Down’s marketing director, says those towns are the track’s main market area. She says it draws well from Northwest Arkansas both because it’s the closest track and because it offers personalized service.

“South of here people in Arkansas have Oaklawn Park,” Loftis says. “In Oklahoma City, they have Remington Park. But we’re easily accessible to Northwest Arkansas thanks to the opening of Interstate 540. We can also offer more attention to details for individuals and groups than the larger parks can.”

Blue Ribbon Downs, which runs annually from Feb 13 to Dec. 12, specializes in group packages and offers clubhouse seating close to the track. Loftis says an increasing number of Arkansas companies are treating both employees and clients to a day at the races.

Thirty-two percent of Blue Ribbon’s group tours came from Arkansas in 1998, second only to Oklahoma (45 percent). Kansas and Missouri had 18 and 5 percent, respectively.

Blue Ribbon is working to promote itself as part of the Oklahoma Tourism Division’s “Native Oklahoma” marking campaign. It’s also doing bulk mailings and sending brochures to Arkansas companies.

Group prices, including parking, admission, programs, clubhouse seating and souvenir pens, are $5 per person for groups of 10-20 people and $4 per person for groups of 21 or more people. With a meal included, it’s about $10 per person.

Regular admission and parking are $2 and $1, respectively, not including a meal, seating or other amenities. Parties interested in group tours should call 918-775-7771, extension 223.