Johnston New Racing Director at Penn National
Eric Johnston, currently vice president of racing/racing secretary at Sam Houston Race Park, has been named director of racing operations for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Sam Houston Race Park
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Sam Houston Race Park
Red Rifle Sets Track Mark in Maxxam Gold Cup
Red Rifle delivered a track-record performance at Sam Houston Race Park in handily winning the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup for his first stakes triumph on the night of March 1.
Slideshow: The Week in Photos for 1/28/2014
Photos from Santa Anita, Hong Kong, Tampa Bay Downs, Sam Houston Race Park, Gulfstream and more. view slideshow
Penn Gaming Series Opens at Sam Houston
Julien Leparoux, Mike Maker, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who teamed to win the John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Jan. 25, top the standings in the jockey, trainer, and owner categories for new series.
Rose to Gold Rises to Ladies Classic Test
Rose to Gold picked up the fourth graded stakes win of her career after running down favored Unusual Way to win the second renewal of the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on the night of Jan. 25 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Surging Admiral Kitten Wins Connally Turf Cup
Odds-on choice Admiral Kitten surged through the stretch to catch Fredericksburg just in time for a neck victory in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) on the night of Jan. 25 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Class Included Heads Houston Ladies Classic
Undefeated since moving to the barn of trainer Ron Faucheux, Brittlyn Stable's Class Included looks to keep her streak alive against seven others in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 25 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Admiral Kitten Tops John B. Connally Turf Cup
The Big Bad Kittens are invading Texas, as grade I winner Admiral Kitten faces seven opponents in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 25.
Sam Houston Plans $1.7M in Stakes for 2014
Sam Houston Race Park will offer $1.7 million in stakes for its 2014 Thoroughbred meet, which spans 32 days from Jan. 17-March 11.
Penn Mile Boosts PNGI 'Big Event' Program
The inaugural $500,000 Penn Mile June 1 helped Penn National Gaming Inc. continue a trend of sharp gains in pari-mutuel handle on "big event" programs at the company's racetracks.
Swift Warrior Makes the Pace to Take Connally
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.
Joyful Victory Sets Track Mark at Sam Houston
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.
Inaugural Houston Ladies Classic Has Style
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.
Sam Houston Meet to Open Jan. 18
Sam 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
Penn Gaming Tracks Stagger Night Post Times
Three 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.
Sam Houston Revamps Stakes Schedule
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.
Sam Houston to Offer Free Admission
Sam Houston Race Park will offer free admission starting May 20.
Pinnacle to Buy Majority Share in Retama Park
Casino 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.
Sam Houston Reports Gains for 2012 Meet
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.
Cease Ends Stakes Drought in Maxxam Gold Cup
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.
Papaw Bodie Surges to Connally Turf Cup Win
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.
Proceed Bee Stands Out in Connally Turf Cup
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.
Sam Houston Gears Up for 2012 Meet
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.
Sam Houston Meet to Open Jan. 20
Sam Houston Race Park will open its 19th annual live racing season Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.
PNGI Says Ballot Question Key to Texas Plans
Penn 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.
No Catching Z Humor in Maxxam Gold Cup
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.
Poll: Texas Voters Support Racetrack Slots
A statewide poll conducted by Baselice and Associates shows 64% of Texans support slot machines at racetracks and Indian reservations.
Stately Victor Returns to Turf in Connally
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.
Sam Houston: Shorter Meet, Higher Purses
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.
Penn National Acquires Sam Houston Interest
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.
Texas Horsemen Working on 2011 Racing Dates
The 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.
Acting Zippy Has Lots of Pep in Connally Turf
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.
Zenyatta-Rachel Alexandra Match Race Proposed
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.
Sam Houston to Repair Storm Damage
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.
Young Gets Promotion at Sam Houston
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.
Retama Park Gets Sam Houston Dates
Sam 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.
Sam Houston Officially Cancels Fall Meet
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.
Hurricane Damage Stymies Houston Meet
The 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.
Status Quo for Texas Thoroughbred Meets
The Texas Racing Commission has awarded 162 Thoroughbred racing dates for 2009, the same number granted for 2008.
Reporting for Duty Wins Gold Cup
The 4-year-old colt scores consecutive stakes wins with a victory in the Maxxam Gold Cup Jan. 26 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Texas Breeders in Houston Spotlight
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.
Big Battles on Texas Champions Day
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.
Schedule Provides 162 Thoroughbred Dates in Texas in 2008
Thoroughbreds have been allocated 162 racing dates for 2008--down from 169 this year--in Texas.
Retama Park Gets OK on Dates for This Year
Retama Park will offer live Thoroughbred racing for more than two months this year under a request approved by the Texas Racing Commission.
Mending Fences Wins Wet Connally BC Turf
Mending 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.
Silver Tree Stands Tall in Connally BC Turf 'Cap
Peter 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.
Proposed Texas Racetracks Win Licenses
Despite 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.
Bork Elected TRA President
Robert 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.
Student Council Takes Action in Maxxam Gold Cup
William 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.
Texas: State-Bred Fund Cuts, Changes in Racing Dates
- By Tom LaMarra
- News
Major 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.
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