News & Updates
TEXAS TUESDAY FEATURE – JOCKEY ERNESTO VALDEZ-JIMINEZ
By Martha Claussen
It’s hard to believe that jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez had never ridden a horse until he turned 16. That’s the year that the teenager with a big smile and bigger dreams left Guerrero, Mexico and came to the United States.
THE 2020 QUARTER HORSE SEASON AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK GETS UNDERWAY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Tribute for Two-Time World Champion Jessies First Down Set for Saturday, April 11
HOUSTON, TX - Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2020 Quarter Horse racing season on Friday, April 10. The 23-day meet continues through Saturday, May 30 and features a lucrative purse boost from House Bill 2463, which was passed by the 86th Texas Legislature. It will contribute $25 million annually to the Texas horse racing industry, split equally between Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse interests.
FRIDAY NIGHT FEATURE – STARTER PAUL STUTES
By Martha Claussen
Anyone who has ever watched a horse race has seen the familiar routine of horses preparing for competition. The field enters the racetrack and parades in front of the grandstand. After their warmup, the horses approach the starting gate, are loaded in, the bell sounds and off they go.
TEXAS TUESDAY – ALLEN AND SONJA DUPUY
By Martha Claussen
Allen Dupuy has spent his entire life around horses. He rode in the bush tracks in Louisiana for more years than he can even remember and was one of the original members of the Sam Houston Race Park jockey colony when the northwest Houston racetrack opened in 1994.
TEXAS THOROUGHBREDS SHINE ON TEXAS CHAMPIONS PREVIEW NIGHT AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Jockey DeShawn Parker Wins Each of the Four Features
HOUSTON, TX- Sam Houston Race Park hosted the inaugural Texas Champions Preview Night on a cool, clear night. Exciting finishes were on display for the $75,000 Jim’s Orbit; $75,000 Two Altazano; $75,000 Houston Turf and $75,000 Miss Houston Turf. It was a huge night for two-time leading Sam Houston Race Park jockey DeShawn Parker, who won each of the four stakes on the card!
FRIDAY NIGHT FEATURE – LEADING TEXAS STALLION TOO MUCH BLING
By Martha Claussen
It’s no secret that owners, trainers and jockeys are very pleased with the purse increases at Sam Houston Race Park as well as the 43% boost announced for the upcoming live racing season at Lone Star Park.
FOUR STAKES SET FOR TEXAS CHAMPIONS PREVIEW NIGHT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
HOUSTON, TX- Sam Houston Race Park will present four stakes on Saturday, February 22 saluting Texas-breds. The ten-race card, which gets underway at 6:45 pm (CT), will include the $75,000 Jim’s Orbit; $75,000 Two Altazano; $75,000 Houston Turf and $75,000 Miss Houston Turf. The inaugural event serves as a preview for next month’s Texas Champions Day, which will feature seven stakes showcasing the established and rising stars of the Texas Thoroughbred industry.
TEXAS TUESDAY WITH TRAINER SARAH DAVIDSON
MARTHA CLAUSSEN WRITES ABOUT THE DAVIDSON FAMILY AND TEXAS RACING
It’s always nice to see the smiles from the winning connections in the Sam Houston Race Park winner’s circle. On Wednesday, February 12, a popular mother and daughter duo had their pictures taken, not once, but twice. It was a great day for trainer Sarah Davidson and her mom, Colleen.
