12/14/2024
SOMETHING STINKS! Many of you know Dr John Chancey and what a fine, capable and competent human being he is. He was hired to lead the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission as a reformer.
His efforts to improve the health and well being of the horses and horse racing industry have been met with nothing but resistance over the past year.
I need your help! Share this post on FB and Instagram. Contact your Oklahoma State Senator or Representative and ask for an investigation by LOFT - the Legislative Oversight and Financial Transparency committee. We need to make sure the horseman and children of Oklahoma are getting their fair share of the millions of dollars generated every day by the horse racing industry.
Below is a story about the situation I wrote for today's Norman Transcript, the daily newspaper for Oklahoma's third largest city. Read it if you would like to learn more. You legislators, veterinarians, AGR's, and horsemen out there - Dr Chancey needs your help! Let's help him.
SOMETHING DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT AT THE OKLAHOMA HORSE RACING COMMISSION
By Joe Carter DVM
The Norman Transcript
December 14, 2024
Something doesn’t smell right at the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (OHRC) and the smell is not coming from the floor of the stalls at Re*****on Park racetrack.
The OHRC is charged with overseeing Oklahoma’s horse racing industry. Last year, a new Executive Director, Dr. John Chancey, was hired to run the agency. The horse industry generates billions in revenue and over 30,000 jobs in Oklahoma.
Dr. Chancey wasn’t on the job long, diligently executing his job responsibilities, before a funny thing happened. He was abruptly asked for his resignation. And asked under the threat of being fired if he didn’t acquiesce. What had he discovered?
MEET DR. JOHN CHANCEY
A couple of weeks ago Dr. Chancey received a prestigious appointment. These are the OHRC’s words from a November 19, 2024 press release describing Dr. Chancey. They state: “Chancey has served as the Executive Director and Director of Equine Welfare for the OHRC since 2023. He was the Supervising Veterinarian for welfare and safety of horse racing at Re*****on Park from 2017-2023. He has been an equine veterinarian specializing in racehorses since 1984.
He is a board member for the National Racing Compact and the Association of Problem Gambling and Gaming. Chancey received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University in 1984. He also earned an MBA from Oklahoma City University. Chancey was raised in Nowata on a Quarter Horse farm and has been around racehorses his entire life. Chancey learned a keen sense of calm and compassion that has made him extremely successful with difficult horses.
He finds a great deal of emotional and professional satisfaction serving in the front lines of equine safety and welfare. His commitment of learning, passion and love of horses has directed a lifetime of work. Chancey has operated award-winning veterinary practices and nutritional service companies. As a dedicated scientist, his research has led him to develop innovative nutraceutical formulations for people, as well as horses, pets and livestock. This has led to the formulation of many patents.
He has served international missions for church and classroom construction, and water well drilling. He has also assisted with livestock development programs in Morogoro, Tanzania.”
Needless to say, Dr. Chancey has an outstanding reputation within the veterinary and horse communities. To hear praise, like was given by the OHRC, is common.
What’s not common is all the rancor currently surrounding him.
THINGS START HEADING SOUTH
When Dr. Chancey began his role as Executive Director his office moved from the barns to the OHRC headquarters in OKC. There he immediately encountered a toxic work environment, much more toxic than what one might ever encounter on the floor of a stall in a barn.
He quickly realized he had some unexpected challenges. He began to wonder if there might be a better way of doing things. After months of careful and thoughtful review he started to make changes. He was met with much resistance.
This spring he began his required review of the financial affairs of the various divisions that the OHRC is charged with overseeing. He began by asking for financial information. He immediately received pushback from different long term OHRC staff members. They said, “we don’t do that.”
It says in state law, the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act, the OHRC is to monitor all financial information regarding gaming at the racetracks, simulcasting, pari-mutual wagering and the Oklahoma breeding incentive program.
Dr. Chancey knew he hit a nerve when three days after one of his requests for financial information the chairman of the commission, Keith Sanders, showed up unannounced at his office. Sanders gave Dr. Chancey an ultimatum. He could resign his position or be fired for cause at the next monthly commission meeting.
Dr. Chancey did not bow down. He did not resign. Therefore, Sanders moved forward and placed him on the agenda for the May regular commission meeting. He used an agenda item title that reads like an effort to publicly humiliate Dr. Chancey.
The agenda item title read: “CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE EMPLOYMENT, HIRING, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, DEMOTION, DISCIPLINING OR RESIGNATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
At the meeting after the agenda item was brought up, the commission went into executive session. What was the outcome?
The nine member commission appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate chose to take no action. Dr. Chancey remained executive director.
But the ridicule and intimidation attempts didn’t end there. The chairman put him on the agenda again in June. Once again, they went into executive session and again, no action was taken, but after the meeting the Attorney General’s office informed Dr. Chancey there would be an investigation of — Dr. Chancey.
The chairman put him on the agenda in August. Again, no action was taken, but Sanders stated “the investigation continues and is not complete.” The investigation took a couple months. They put him and the investigation report on the agenda for October. Again, they went into executive session and no action was taken.
AN ODD TWIST OCCURS — CHANCEY IS PRAISED
In the regularly scheduled November 14, 2024 OHRC meeting Dr. Chancey was placed on the agenda again. This time not for public humiliation, ridicule or investigation, but for accolades.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. JOHN CHANCEY’S APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ASSOCIATION OF RACING COMMISSIONERS INTERNATIONAL, INC (“ARCI”). The commission’s agenda stated: “Dr. Chancey currently serves as the Chair of the Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee of ARCI. For over eighty years, the ARCI, through its Model Rules, has developed the best practice regulatory standards for all breeds of horse racing. ARCI continues to serve as a service provider and strong advocate for animal welfare and sport integrity. The ARCI also helps manage the National Racing Compact and operates the Sports Betting Regulators Association.”
The OHRC issued a press release. It was titled: Prestigious Appointment to National Horse Rule and Welfare Commission. Executive Director Dr. John Chancey was appointed to the National Horse Rule and Welfare Commission. OHRC Chairman Sanders, says in the press release regarding Chancey, “That is quite an honor.”
He also recognized Dr. Chancey for his years of service as Chairman of the ARCI Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee.
TWO DAYS AFTER PRAISE ANOTHER TWIST OCCURS — PUBLIC RIDICULE
Two days after publicly praising Dr. Chancey in a press release for his work on the behalf of the health and well being of horses the chairman called a “special meeting” on Nov 21 to discuss Dr. Chancey’s job again.
The public notice agenda said: “CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE EMPLOYMENT, HIRING, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, DEMOTION, DISCIPLINING OR RESIGNATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE BOARD AND LEGAL COUNSEL CONCERNING A PENDING INVESTIGATION WHERE COUNSEL HAS DETERMINED THAT DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE MATTER fWILL SERIOUSLY IMPAIR THE ABILITY OF THE [COMMISSION] TO PROCESS THE CLAIM OR CONDUCT A PENDING INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION, OR PROCEEDING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST”.
What the hell does that mean? Who knows? Nonetheless, the result of the meeting was the same as previous meetings. Again — NO ACTION TAKEN. Dr. Chancey remains executive director.
So what’s the deal racing commission? Five meetings calling for Dr Chancey’s resignation or firing and no action. One meeting recognizing and praising him for being an industry leader.
Now I smell a rat!
So what is it, Racing Commission Chairman Sanders? Is John good or is John bad? What did this investigation reveal? Two requests through the Open Records Act for a copy of the investigator’s report sent to the Attorney General’s office have been rejected.
Hey Chairman, you’ve done an investigation. You’ve gotten a report. What is it?
The horsemen of Oklahoma, the people of Oklahoma and most importantly the children of Oklahoma whose education is funded by this industry deserve to know.
Something doesn’t smell right at the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commiss
