Sam Houston Race Park will not only offer an expanded live racing season, but additional stakes throughout its 2021 Thoroughbred meet, which begins on Friday, Jan. 8.
The 2021 Thoroughbred Stakes schedule will offer $2.4 million in purses, up from $1.8 million in 2020. The Houston Racing Festival will take place on Sunday, Jan. 31, headlined by the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and the John B. Connally Turf (G3). Inaugurated in 2013, the Houston Ladies Classic was formed to serve as the marquee racing event for Sam Houston's Thoroughbred meet. Now in its ninth running, the mile and one-sixteenth Houston Ladies Classic anchors the Houston Racing Festival, which also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, the $100,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint, the $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes and $75,000 Stonerside Sprint. The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds was added last year and drew a highly competitive field of ten.
Opportunities for Texas-breds are plentiful in the upcoming meet. The 2021 Thoroughbred racing season will feature 14 Texas-bred stakes. Additionally, all seven stakes races on Texas Champions Day have been increased from $75,000 to $100,000.
Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's Senior Director of Racing Operations, explains that while the Houston Racing Festival continues to garner national attention, rewarding Texas Thoroughbreds is also a very important priority.
“We have worked closely with the Texas Thoroughbred Association and are pleased with the increases for our Texas-bred stakes in 2021,” said Hopf. “Heading into 2021, we want to build on the positive strides made prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and take a lead role in improving racing in Texas.”
The 2021 Thoroughbred season will conclude on April 3 with three new $75,000 stakes added to the racing program.
James Leatherman will serve as racing secretary for the Thoroughbred live racing season and 23-day Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse meet which will run from Friday, April 23 through Saturday, June 12. Stall applications for the upcoming Thoroughbred season are due by Wednesday, November 6. The Sam Houston Race Park barn area will open on Saturday, November 28 with training hours set to commence on Tuesday, December 1. The first condition book is available on equibase.com and further information about the season can be accessed at shrp.com.
2021 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 Texas Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series
$75,000 My Dandy – 3yo – 5 ½ Furlongs
$75,000 Darby's Daughter – 3yo F – 5 ½ Furlongs
Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 Houston Racing Festival – Over $1,000,000 in Purses
$300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) – 4&up F&M – 1 1/16 Mile
$200,000 John B. Connally Turf (G3) – 4&up – 1 1/2 Mile (T)
$200,000 Texas Turf Mile- 3YO -1 Mile (T)
$100,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint – 4&up – 5 Furlongs (T)
$75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf – 4&up F&M – 1 1/16 Mile (T)
$75,000 Stonerside Sprint – 4&up – 6 Furlongs
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series
$75,000 Jim's Orbit – 3yo – 6 Furlongs
$75,000 Two Altazano – 3yo F – 6 Furlongs
$75,000 H-Town – 4 YO & up 7 Furlongs
$75,000 Miss Bluebonnet Turf – 4&up F&M – 1 Mile (T)
$75,000 Houston Turf – 4&up – 1 1/16 Miles (T)
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 Texas Arabian Night
$30,000-added Texas Six Shooter (G3) – 4 &5 yo – 7 Furlongs
$30,000-added Yellow Rose (G3) – 4 &5 yo F&M – 7 Furlongs
$30,000-added Darley Sprint – 4 yo & up – 7 Furlongs
Friday, March 19, 2021 Darley Night
$30,000-added Darley Distaff – 4 yo & up F&M – 7 Furlongs
$30,000-added Darley Sprint – 4 yo & up – 7 Furlongs
Saturday, March 20, 2021 Texas Champions Day for Texas-breds
$100,000 Bara Lass Stakes – 3yo F – 6 Furlongs
$100,000 Groovy Stakes – 3yo – 6 furlongs
$100,000 Richard King – 4&up – 1 1/8 Mile (T)
$100,000 San Jacinto – 4&up F&M – 1 1/16 Mile (T)
$100,000 Spirit of Texas – 4&up – 6 Furlongs
$100,000 Yellow Rose Stakes – 4&up F&M – 6 furlongs
$100,000 Star of Texas – 4&up F&M – 1 Mile
Saturday, April 3, 2021 Houston Showcase Night
$75,000 Bucharest Stakes – 4 yo &up – 7 Furlongs
$75,000 Miss Houston Turf – 4&up – F&M One Mile (T)
$75,000 Bayou City Stakes – 3 yo – 1 1/16 Miles (T)
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