During Wednesday's meeting of the Texas Racing Commission, Sam Houston Race Park vice president of facility operations Dwight Berube revealed that the track plans to apply for 43 Thoroughbred race dates in 2023.
A letter from an industry executive, distributed among horsemen, states that in order for Sam Houston to offer purses near 2022 levels, no open stakes races will be offered, including the Houston Racing Festival. The Houston Racing Festival includes the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic and the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup.
However, since Texas ATB stakes races are funded by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, those races will be held as usual, including Texas Champions Day.
Racing is expected to be held in the afternoon on Friday through Sunday.
The added money generally used to fund open stakes races will instead be put into the overnight races, the letter said, making up at least part of the deficit caused by Sam Houston's inability to export its signal.
By order of the TRC, Texas Thoroughbred tracks have been unable to export their simulcast signal out of state since July 1, 2022, the implementation date of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's racetrack safety program.
Amy Cook, TRC executive director, said the action was taken to retain full compliance with the Texas Racing Act.
Elimination of out-of-state wagering on Texas tracks delivered a severe economic blow to Lone Star Park's business in July, including the purse fund. This is especially true in Texas, where advance deposit wagering is illegal and all legal bets must be made at a racetrack in-state. Upwards of 90 percent of handle comes via simulcasting, industry studies have shown. There is concern imported simulcasts could also be shut down.
Berube did request that Sam Houston be able to retain flexibility in race dates if the ability to export their racing signal changes.
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