Racing News
Five Stakes to be Contested in Sunday Afternoon's Houston Racing Festival
Three undercard stakes complement the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic and Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup on Sunday
Sam Houston Race Park will present the Houston Racing Festival with five stakes races on Sunday, January 29. The ten-race card gets underway at a special early post of noon (Central).
The first of the five stakes, the $75,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint, will run as race 6, followed by the $50,000 Space City Stakes, the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic and the $50,000 Houston Distaff.
Houston Ladies Classic Nominations and EHV-1 Policy Revision
Nominations have closed for the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic which will be contested on Sunday, January 29. The mile and one-sixteenth stakes was awarded its graded status by the American Graded Stakes Committee in 2016, and remains the richest Thoroughbred race in Texas.
2017 SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK THOROUGHBRED MEET KICKS OFF FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
Sam Houston Race Park is in final preparations for its 24th live racing season. Friday January 20 is opening night of the Thoroughbred meet and the men and women who serve our country will be entitled to Free Admission for Military (with valid ID).
Seven Texas Champions Stakes Postponed
Sam Houston Race Park (SHRP) has postponed and will reschedule at a date to be determined seven $50,000 Thoroughbred stakes races scheduled for Friday, January 20th and Saturday, January 21st as part of Texas Champions Weekend. SHRP will write and card extra overnight races to replace the postponed races, which were planned as part of the Houston racetrack’s annual opening weekend festivities. The decision was made due to the equine herpesvirus outbreak in Louisiana at Fair Grounds racetrack.
Entry Policy Regarding EHV-1
Due to the additional outbreaks of the neurological strain of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) at Fair Grounds Race Course, the following entry policy will be implemented at Sam Houston Race Park, effective January 3, 2017 and until further notice:
Matt Crawford Joins Sam Houston Race Park as the New Racing Secretary
With the start of its upcoming meet just a month away, Sam Houston Race Park has tabbed Matthew Crawford as its new Racing Secretary. Crawford replaces Fred Hutton, who recently departed Sam Houston to pursue other opportunities in the racing industry.
2017 Promotional Schedule Announced
Sam Houston Race Park offers more than just the richest stakes program in Texas, race fans can also expect to enjoy special promotions and entertainment during their visit to the Park. This year, a number of special events have been revamped while still including fan favorites like 50 Cent Beer Every Friday, Dollar Days, Wiener Dog Races, and Camel and Ostrich Races. In 2017, fans should expect to see even more Food Truck Fridays and a new event on March 11th called the SHRP Track-Athalon with several entertaining races on the track between horse races.
2017 Throughbred Stakes Schedule Released
Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 24th live racing season on Friday, January 20. The 2017 live racing schedule was approved by the Texas Racing Commission last month and begins with the fan favorite 32-day Thoroughbred meet.
