The entertainment industry and more mourn the loss of Toby Keith today as the music icon passed away Monday, Feb. 5 at age 62. He was also a huge fan of horse racing, breeding and owning hundreds of horses over the years, with Remington Park as his home track.
The famous Oklahoman was as big as it gets in the country music industry, selling millions of records throughout his long career. Keith loved horse racing, participating in races across the country under stable name Dream Walkin Farms. While not on tour or following his beloved University of Oklahoma Sooners teams around the country, Keith could be found in his suite during Remington Park racing seasons.
“Toby was a fixture at Remington Park since the early days of racing in Oklahoma when his music career was just beginning. He loved his horses and Remington Park while being an international ambassador for the industry,” said Matt Vance, Remington Park’s executive vice president of racing. “Toby was always giving of his time with guests and staff to help in any way he could. We will miss him calling for “Riders Up” for the Oklahoma Derby as he did for many years.”Keith campaigned horses with many partners but raced primarily under his own stable name, Dream Walkin Farms. He won many races at Remington Park with his top horses locally, stakes winners Smack Smack and Three Chords.Smack Smack won the 2013 Clever Trevor Stakes and the 2015 Governor’s Cup.Three Chords won four stakes events here for Keith, including the 2018 Oklahoma Stallion Stakes-Filly Division. She then won three consecutive Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprints in 2018, 2019 and 2020.Overall at Remington Park, Dream Walkin Farms won 168 races from 2001 through the 2023 Thoroughbred Season. Keith won the first race under the name at Remington Park on Aug. 24, 2001 with Apples Hoss. The final victory for Keith and Dream Walkin Farms came with Bobwhite Bobby on Nov. 20, 2023.Total earnings for Dream Walkin Farms at Remington Park reached $4,172,156, good for fifth all-time in Oklahoma City.Dream Walkin Farms also competed locally in American Quarter Horse seasons, winning 25 races at Remington Park.
Photo by Dustin Orona Photography