Swift Warrior made his first-ever start at Sam Houston Race Park a successful one Jan. 26, when he beat nine rivals in the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) in a pacesetting effort.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
A freshened Joyful Victory was too much to handle for her rivals in the inaugural $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park on the night of Jan. 26, setting a track record while drawing away for an easy win.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The inaugural running of the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic -- -the richest race run at Sam Houston Race Park since it opened in 1994 -- -will feature round three for rivals Joyful Victory and Brushed by a Star.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013Sam Houston Race Park will open its 20th live racing season when it kicks off its 2013 meet on Friday, Jan. 18, with average daily purses in excess of $165,000
Tuesday, January 08, 2013Three Thoroughbred tracks comprising much of the nighttime simulcast market over the next few months have announced a coordinated plan to reschedule their post times beginning with live racing on Dec. 26.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Sam Houston Race Park revamps stakes schedule for 2013, offers "Ship Assist" program for owners who start horse in Houston Ladies Classic and undercard stakes.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Sam Houston Race Park will offer free admission starting May 20.
Thursday, May 10, 2012Casino operator Pinnacle Entertainment said April 26 one of its subsidiaries has an agreement to purchase a 75.5% interest in Retama Park, which is located near San Antonio, Texas.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sam Houston Race Park reported a 35% increase in live pari-mutuel handle and a 40% jump in attendance for its 31-day Thoroughbred meet, which ended March 12.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Cease closed ground in the final stages of the $150,000 Maxxam Gold Cup and took command to earn his first black-type victory on the night of March 3 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Making his stakes debut in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, favored Papaw Bodie surged to the lead in upper stretch to post a convincing win at Sam Houston Race Park on the night of Jan. 28.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Proceed Bee is the obvious choice in the Jan. 28 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park. But he will face some still competition from the likes of several other promising horses.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sam Houston Race Park will launch Thoroughbred racing in Texas for 2012 with average daily purses of $160,000, highest in the track's 18-year history.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Sam Houston Race Park will open its 19th annual live racing season Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011Penn National Gaming Inc. officials said April 21 they believe if the question of racetrack video lottery terminals makes the ballot in Texas it has a good chance to pass.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Z Humor went gate to wire to win the $150,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park on the night of March 5, turning back a serious challenge in the stretch for an 11-1 upset.
Sunday, March 06, 2011A statewide poll conducted by Baselice and Associates shows 64% of Texans support slot machines at racetracks and Indian reservations.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Florida invader Stately Victor returns to the lawn for the first time since last summer when he takes on eight rivals in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 29.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The 2011 Texas racing season begins Jan. 21 with the opening of Sam Houston Race Park, which will offer a 27-day meet through March 7.
Friday, January 07, 2011
With an eye toward expanded gaming in Texas, Penn National Gaming, Inc. is assuming a 50% ownership interest in Sam Houston Race Park and two other pari-mutuel facilities in the Lone Star state.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010The Texas Horsemen's Partnership will hold meetings in early July to allow members to get information on and ask questions about various proposals on future racing dates in Texas.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Acting Zippy dictated a slow pace for jockey Robby Albarado and had enough left to hold off Orientate Express for neck victory in the $197,000 John B. Connally Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 30.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
James McIngvale, a Houston horse owner known for his high profile promotions on behalf of his Gallery Furniture stores, is proposing a $2-million match race between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sam Houston Race Park will begin repairs to the roof of its grandstand, as well as additional construction to rebuild portions of the stable and track areas, weather permitting beginning Jan. 22.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Andrea Young has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Sam Houston Race Park and Valley Race Park in Texas, parent company MAXXAM Inc. announced Jan. 13. Young also joins the company's board of directors.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009Sam Houston Race Park canceled its 2008-09 meet and transferred 43 of its originally scheduled 65 days to Retama Park, a move approved by the Texas Racing Commission during a special meeting Oct. 28.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sam Houston Race Park will cancel the 2008/2009 Thoroughbred meet due to damages sustained by the facility as a result of Hurricane Ike. The storm's high winds and rainfall caused significant damage throughout the property including the facility's grandstands, stable area and the large infield tote board.
Monday, October 20, 2008The 2008-09 Sam Houston Race Park meet probably won't make its Nov. 28 start date given extensive damage sustained by the track during Hurricane Ike, according to chief operating officer Andrea Young. Officials in Texas are studying alternatives should that be the case.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008The Texas Racing Commission has awarded 162 Thoroughbred racing dates for 2009, the same number granted for 2008.
Friday, August 29, 2008The 4-year-old colt scores consecutive stakes wins with a victory in the Maxxam Gold Cup Jan. 26 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston Race Park Dec. 1 rewarded the faith of smaller Texas breeders and owners as favorites gave way to some surprising upsets in the eight stakes for accredited Texas-breds.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Texas-breds will take the spotlight at Sam Houston Race Park Dec. 1 for the track's annual Texas Champion Day program, which features eight restricted stakes worth more than $500,000.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007Thoroughbreds have been allocated 162 racing dates for 2008--down from 169 this year--in Texas.
Sunday, October 14, 2007Retama Park will offer live Thoroughbred racing for more than two months this year under a request approved by the Texas Racing Commission.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007Mending Fences required little cooperation from Mother Nature as he led from gate to wire and won the $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park by three-quarters of a length Saturday night.
Sunday, April 08, 2007Peter Vegso's Silver Tree has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $200,000 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT), the highlight of closing weekend at Sam Houston Race Park Saturday.
Thursday, April 05, 2007Despite competition for wagering dollars and horses, the Texas Racing Commission granted three Class II racetrack licenses--one of them conditionally--at its March 20 meeting.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007Robert L. Bork, president and general manager of Sam Houston Race Park, was elected the 33rd president of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) at its annual board of directors' meeting March 12. Bork succeeded Corey S. Johnsen, former president of Lone Star Park at the conclusion of his two-year term as TRA president.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007William S. Farish's homebred Student Council blazed to a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday night's $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park.
Sunday, January 28, 2007Major change is coming for Texas racing in 2007, with a decrease of more than a half-million dollars in funds for the Thoroughbred accredited Texas-bred program and almost three months without Thoroughbred racing.
Friday, September 29, 2006Stewards in Texas have suspended jockey Lonnie Meche for a second time after he tested positive for amphetamines Nov. 5 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Sunday, December 04, 2005Sam Houston Race Park will shut down Sept. 22-24 because of Hurricane Rita, which is approaching the United States coast.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005A pair of old pros who own the last four wins in the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap will hook up to keep the crown Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.
Thursday, April 07, 2005Alumni Hall, ridden by Robby Albarado, turned back the closing Colonial Colony in the stretch to win Saturday night's $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park by three-quarters of a length.
Sunday, January 23, 2005Chris Nolan's Colonial Colony, winner of the 2004 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, and William Farish, James Elkins, and Temple Webber's Alumni Hall, winner of the 2004 Black Tie Affair Handicap at Arlington Park, figure to vie for favoritism in the Jan. 22 Maxxam Gold Cup, a $100,000 event for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles at Sam Houston Race Park.
Thursday, January 20, 2005Bushwood Stables' Better Talk Now and Mansell Stables' Quest Star, both 5-year-olds, headline the April 10 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap, at $200,000 the richest race of the Sam Houston Race Park meet. The Connally is at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Thursday, April 08, 2004The Texas Thoroughbred Association has made no decision on whether to appeal the ruling by Texas Judge Charles Mitchell that ordered the association to recertify Chauffe Au Rouge as an accredited Texas-bred racehorse. The TTA temporarily suspended action on the matter during its Feb. 19 board of directors meeting.
Saturday, February 21, 2004The Texas Racing Commission has ruled horses with common ownership and trainers can run as separate betting interests during the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park.
Thursday, February 05, 2004Sam Houston Race Park has cut purses after handle failed to meet purse projections. Overnight purses were adjusted 7%, effective Dec. 18, 2003 with the cuts to stakes purses beginning Jan. 17.
Thursday, January 08, 2004A Sam Houston Race Park management team has received the green light from the Texas Racing Commission to begin applying for a license to operate a Class 2 racetrack in southwest Texas.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003