OKLAHOMA -- Four remaining defendants will stand separate jury trials Feb. 8 on charges stemming from June horse races that killed seven horses, Rogers County authorities said.
The four pleaded not guilty Thursday in Rogers County District Court.
District Judge Steven J. Adams denied motions to combine their trials.
William Schluneger and Billy Coghill of Broken Arrow and Marty Douglas Bates of Claremore each face trial on one count of animal cruelty.
Prosecutors brought two animal-cruelty counts against Jody Trotter of Kiefer.
The charges stem from their alleged roles in June 13 long-distance races near Catoosa in which horses died after competition in hot, humid weather, authorities said.
The race promoter Bill McAnally, his wife Paula McAnally and Johnnie Lee Meders were given fines and deferred sentences after pleading no contest to animal cruelty charges against them earlier this fall.
McAnally dropped a civil lawsuit Tuesday against an endurance ride organization that pulled out of the races before their running.
McAnally dismissed his lawsuit in exchange for the American Endurance Ride Conference's agreement not to sue him, according to court records.
(NewsOK - December 5, 1987)
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