The El Primero Fair Association backed by Cash, Marilyn, and Keith Asmussen and the Laredo National Bank has decided to withdraw its application to open a non-profit Class 3 racetrack near Laredo, Texas.
Wednesday, December 18, 2002The Texas Racing Commission has renewed its drug-testing contract with Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, and also approved some changes in the racing schedule at Manor Downs for 2003.
Wednesday, December 18, 2002It came down to the last race of the Great State Challenge, with Kentucky edging out Florida for bragging rights of the inaugural event held today at Sam Houston Race Park.
Saturday, December 07, 2002The Texas Racing Commission voted 4-2 Wednesday to suspend James Donnan 60 days from his owner's license for submitting an incorrect Texas-bred accreditation statement to the Texas Thoroughbred Association for Chauffe Au Rouge, who went on to win two stakes races restricted to Texas Thoroughbreds.
Friday, December 06, 2002Take Charge Lady and Forbidden Apple are among the favorites in their divisions of Saturday's Great State Challenge at Sam Houston Race Park.
Wednesday, December 04, 2002City Street, a track-record-setter and –equaler in his two starts as a 2-year-old, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Bullard Farms near Weatherford, Texas
Wednesday, November 27, 2002Horsemen's associations from 11 states have submitted their selections for starting positions in the first NTRA Great State Challenge, presented by John Deere and Fed Ex, on Dec. 7 at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas.
Thursday, November 21, 2002Lone Star Park began the first phase of its $7.8-million expansion plan Nov. 20 to accommodate horsemen from around the world and an anticipated crowd in excess of 50,000 for the 2004 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.
Wednesday, November 20, 2002On Wednesday Lone Star Park begins renovations in preparation for hosting the 2004 Breeders' Cup with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Wednesday, November 20, 2002Graded stakes winner Sky Approval and track-record setter American Brass will enter stud at Paul Jordan's Rolling Oaks Farm near Kingsbury, Texas
Tuesday, November 19, 2002Because of two dispersals, considerably more horses will be sold at this year's Fasig-Tipton Texas December sale, the auction company announced today.
Monday, November 18, 2002Touch Tone, a 4-year-old stakes winner and grade I stakes-placed son of Pick Up the Phone, has been retired and will stand in 2003 at Jim Helzer's JEH Stallion Station near Pilot Point, Texas. He will stand for $2,500.
Friday, November 08, 2002Following the 129 grade I races run during the first 18 years of the Breeders' Cup, 75 times the horse led into the winner's circle was bred in Kentucky. That 58% strike rate leads all states or countries in that category.
Monday, October 21, 2002The El Primero Fair Association, backed by Cash, Marilyn, and Keith Asmussen
and the Laredo National Bank, still has to clear some hurdles before it can open a non-profit Class 3 racetrack near Laredo, Texas.
Magna Entertainment Corp.'s $99 million acquisition of Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie was approved Wednesday by the Texas Racing Commission at a meeting in Austin.
Wednesday, October 16, 2002James Jackson stood at the summit of Thoroughbred racing during the first Saturday in May in 1999 when his 3-year-old gelding Valhol started in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. However, his memory of the Run for the Roses and what occurred a few weeks before have finally spurred the 49-year-old Texan to retire from racing.
Saturday, October 12, 2002Considering the state of the economy and the performances of some previous sales, consignors and sales officials were not surprised to see gross and average sales drop at the Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale.
Tuesday, August 27, 2002The Fasig-Tipton Summer Texas yearling sale got off to a slow start Monday with 129 horses selling for an average of $10,373 and a median of $5,000.
Monday, August 26, 2002The Texas Racing Commission has approved the live racing calendar for all Texas racetracks in 2003. Prior to TRC approval of the calendar, Retama Park and Sam Houston Race Park agreed during a private discussion to hold concurrent dates for live racing on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26 next year.
Thursday, August 15, 2002Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 416 horses for the Texas summer yearling sale.
Friday, July 26, 2002The city of Grand Prairie, Texas, signed an agreement with Lone Star Park June 28 to grant the racetrack $2.9 million for facility improvements to host a future Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.
Friday, June 28, 2002The Saddle Brook Corp. of Amarillo, Texas, is blazing a new trail on undeveloped land expected to be home to a new racetrack in the Lone Star State.
Wednesday, June 19, 2002Groundbreaking ceremonies for Saddle Brook Park, a proposed racetrack and entertainment center in Amarillo, Texas, are set for June 19. Plans call for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.
Wednesday, June 12, 2002The American Quarter Horse Association reached an out-of-court settlement Tuesday that will allow horse breeders to register embryo-transfer foals.
Wednesday, June 12, 2002A Texas judge reaffirmed on May 16 his earlier decision that an American Quarter Horse Association rule restricting the number of registered foals produced through embryo transfer violates the state's antitrust law.
Friday, May 24, 2002A field of 12 has been drawn for the $100,000 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge April 6 at Lone Star Park. The race for 3-year-olds will be held at one mile on the turf.
Thursday, April 04, 2002Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, opens April 4 with an appearance by Texas native Jerry Bailey, who will ride in the $50,000 Premiere Stakes that evening. Lone Star just wrapped up its March simulcasting operation with a record handle.
Tuesday, April 02, 2002Texan James "Mattress Mac" McIngvale went to $110,000 to acquire a Jade Hunter--Larrikin (by Slew o' Gold) colt as the top-priced offering during Tuesday's Texas sale of 2-year-olds in training conducted by Fasig-Tipton.
Tuesday, March 26, 2002A storm that whipped through Medina County, Texas, the evening of March 19 killed five horses and destroyed three barns at Gene and Judy Palmieri's Silver Spur Ranch located about a half-hour southwest of San Antonio.
Thursday, March 21, 2002Fasig-Tipton Texas has catalogued 378 horses for its 2-year-olds in training sale at March 26 Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. The single-session sale will begin at 10 a.m. Central time.
Tuesday, February 19, 2002Leland and Sue Cook, owners of Richland Ranch near Corsicana, Texas, received the top award Saturday night at the Texas Thoroughbred Association's annual banquet in Austin.
Sunday, January 20, 2002The board of directors of the Texas Thoroughbred Association rescinded the accreditation of Texas-bred Chauffe Au Rouge after a lengthy hearing Jan. 18. The vote was 10-4. The move would appear to begin the process of releasing two stakes purses for Texas-accredited horses which have been held in escrow since Chauffe Au Rouge won them last year.
Saturday, January 19, 2002An appeals court ruling handed down Jan. 17 spells trouble for a 24-hour casino being operated by Alabama-Coushatta Tribe in Livingston, Texas.
Friday, January 18, 2002Gaming officials in Lake Charles, La., say a casino opened by the Alabama-Coushatta tribe near Livingston, Texas, has been doing brisk business. The tribe opened the small land-based casino after Thanksgiving on its reservation 90 miles north of Houston.
Tuesday, December 18, 2001With leading freshman sire Valid Expectations standing in Texas, now his full brother will join him in the Lone Star state.
Four-year-old Littleexpectations will enter stud in 2002 at Charles Weston and Dr. Jim Ward's Weston-Ward Thoroughbreds at Straus Medina near San Antonio. The syndicated stallion will stand for $2,500.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association board of directors approved a $60-million operating budget for 2002, and officially chose Sam Houston Race Park in Texas to serve as host site of the first Great State Challenge late next year.
Friday, December 07, 2001Though horsemen's groups in various states did not vote to pull their signals from all wagering outlets in Florida in response to a stall-application denial by Tampa Bay Downs, their forces are being marshaled.
Thursday, November 15, 2001Opportunities were there at the Fasig-Tipton Texas yearling sale at Lone Star Park. Overall gross revenues, as well as the sale average and median prices increased during the two-day sale.
Thursday, September 13, 2001Lone Star Park officials said they will know by September whether the Texas racetrack will operate a racing facility in Uruguay in conjunction with Hipica Rioplatense, a gaming and technology concern.
Tuesday, July 31, 2001At the request of owner and breeder Keith Asmussen, the Texas Racing Commission on June 27 voted to take applications to construct a Class 2 or Class 3 track in the Laredo area. The Asmussens, in partnership with Sam Houston Race Park, hope to convert their El Primero Training Center into a racetrack and simulcasting facility.
Tuesday, July 03, 2001Texas Gov. Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have, among other things, increased the amount racetracks receive from the simulcasting of Greyhound races. The veto is expected to have some impact on horsemen.
Monday, June 25, 2001The jockeys have been selected for this year's NTRA All-Star Jockey Challenge at Lone Star Park. The group is led by Laffit Pincay Jr., the all-time leading jockey by number of wins, and Pat Day, who as of May 29 was one victory shy of 8,000.
Tuesday, May 29, 2001A joint statement released Tuesday by Manor Downs, the Texas Racing Commission, horsemen, and breed associations said the 2001 Thoroughbred meet at Manor Downs has been canned because construction that would allow the Austin-area track to hold the April meet couldn't be completed.
Wednesday, April 11, 2001A high buy-back rate and only one break-out horse were the key points Monday during the first session of the two-day Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-year-olds in training sale at Lone Star Park.
Monday, March 26, 2001Two legislative bills filed in Texas could legalize casino gambling on the reservations of three Indian tribes if they become law.
Wednesday, February 07, 2001While their governor was being sworn in as president of the United States, Texas Thoroughbred owners and breeders were electing new officers and handing out awards at their annual get-together and dinner in Austin.
Sunday, January 21, 2001A Texas lawsuit seeking compensation for the death of a 2-year-old gelding in a van accident also broke new legal ground. After months of legal wrangling, Jim and Helen Widener of Irving, Texas, were awarded $65,000 as compensation for the death of their Texas-bred gelding I Stole the Wish in July 1998. The settlement, which included $10,000 for lost state breeders' awards, is believed to be the first time that a United States court officially recognized and placed a value on a state Thoroughbred breeding program.
Monday, December 18, 2000Owner Joe McDermott said he's in the process of finding homes for seven stallions that stood at the Houston-area farm in 2000.
Monday, October 23, 2000Stakes purses for Texas-breds should increase measurably beginning in 2001 given the Texas Racing Commission's approval of a rule that diverts a portion of racetracks' export simulcasting fees back to the state breed associations.
Thursday, October 05, 2000