Nick Tammaro Named Track Announcer At Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park is pleased to announce that Nick Tammaro will assume the role of track announcer when the 2022 live racing season gets underway on Jan. 6. The Houston native will call races for the 50-day Thoroughbred live racing season as well as the 25-day Quarter Horse meet, which runs from April 22-June 18.

Tammaro, 37, has been a racing fan since childhood, making his first trip to Fair Grounds in New Orleans with his father when he was just six. He attended races at Trinity Meadows regularly growing up in the Dallas area and was hooked on the game by the time he went to the 1993 Belmont Stakes. He has been involved in the racing industry for over 13 years as public handicapper, speed figure maker and odds maker. His handicapping skills have earned him eight trips to the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas as well as a top 5 finish in the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge.

Born in Houston, Tammaro has been an enthusiastic supporter of Sam Houston Race Park for over two decades.

“I was there the second day that Sam Houston opened in 1994,” said Tammaro. “I have always loved horseracing; it's in my blood and I still feel the excitement every time I walk into the track.”

He credits track announcer Travis Stone for giving him the opportunity to call his first race at Louisiana Downs twelve years ago. When Sam Houston Race Park's previous announcer Chris Griffin departed for Parx, Tammaro was given the opportunity to call races for six weeks during the Quarter Horse season.

“It was a lot of fun and I am excited to join the fraternity of announcers,” he added. “Racing is on the upswing at Sam Houston Race Park and the sky is blue as we head into 2022.”

Tammaro, who earned in B.A. at the University of Dallas and M.B.A. at the University of Houston, resides in Pearland, a growing suburb south of downtown. He and his wife, Norma, are proud parents of a 2-year-old daughter, Alessandra.

“Nick has been a part of the Sam Houston Race Park team for many years as our morning-line oddsmaker and guest handicapper,” said Sam Houston Race Park's Senior Director of Racing Operations Frank Hopf. “He did a tremendous job calling races during our Quarter Horse meet. His passion for the sport of horseracing is contagious and will be a major asset to our team.”

Sam Houston Race Park's 2021 live racing season ended on Aug. 7 and officials reported that handle numbers, previously announced following the Thoroughbred meet, continued on a high note throughout the 42-day Quarter Horse racing season.

2021 Total: $26,641,427 42 Days $619,568 Average per Day

2019 Total: $9,012,707 20 Days $450,635 Average per Day

“We were pleased to see the increases in handle continue into our Quarter Horse meet,” said Sam Houston Race Park's General Manager Dwight Berube. “Our goal heading into 2021 was to offer a quality racing program for both breeds. We are grateful for the support from our horsemen and women as well our loyal horseplayers who responded strongly to our industry-low takeouts and full complement of wagering opportunities.”

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Live Racing Returns To Sam Houston Wednesday; Texas Preview Night Rescheduled For Saturday

Live racing returns to Sam Houston Race Park this week after the northwest Houston racetrack and millions of Texans recover from a devastating winter storm. Beginning on Monday, Feb. 15, sub-freezing temperatures created havoc with icy road conditions, power failures and dwindling water pressure which created untold hardships for residents and ground businesses to a halt.

Sam Houston Race Park presented its last Thoroughbred card on Saturday, Feb. 13 before the lack of power, icy track condition and water supply issues left management no choice but to cancel live racing from Feb. 17-20.

The good news is that as of Friday, Feb. 19, temperatures climbed into the 50's and training resumed over the weekend. Highs in the 70's are forecast for this week with racing to resume Wednesday, Feb. 24. Additional races have been added to the Wednesday and Thursday cards and the five Texas Preview Night stakes, originally scheduled for Feb. 20, will run on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Post time for Saturday's 12-race program has been amended with the first race set for 5:40 pm (CT). The five Texas Preview Night features will begin with the $75,000 Two Altazano as race six and continue with the $75,000 Miss Bluebonnet Turf; $75,000 H-Town Stakes; $75,000 Houston Turf and $75,000 Jim's Orbit.

The annual event serves as a preview for Texas Champions Day, which will take place on Saturday, March 20. Purses for each of the seven Champions Day stakes showcasing the established and rising stars of the Texas Thoroughbred industry have been boosted to $100,000 this year.

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Sam Houston Cancels Live Racing, Training Through Thursday Due To Texas Snowstorm

Snow in Texas.

Yes, you read that right.

Due to ongoing winter weather conditions in Houston, Tx., Sam Houston Race Park has cancelled live racing and training for both Wednesday, Feb. 17 and Thursday, Feb. 18, according to the track's Twitter account.

Sam Houston's power is also out, so entries for Wednesday, Feb. 24, originally scheduled to be taken today, will now be taken on Thursday, Feb. 18.

The National Weather Service's Winter Storm Warning for the area will remain in effect through 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning.

Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing overnight, and there is the potential for ice accumulation of up to a tenth of an inch.

The post Sam Houston Cancels Live Racing, Training Through Thursday Due To Texas Snowstorm appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Record Handle at Sam Houston During Houston Racing Festival

Sam Houston Race Park set a record for handle during its 10-race Houston Racing Festival card Sunday, Jan. 31. Besides the $300,000 GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. and $200,000 GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup S., the fixture also featured the $200,000 Texas Turf Mil S., $100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint S., the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint S. and the $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf S. A record total of $5.3 million was wagered at the Houston-area track.

“We are thrilled with the success of this year's Houston Racing Festival and setting a record handle of $5.3 million,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing. “It was a team effort from everyone at Sam Houston and our thanks go out to all the horsemen and owners for supporting our meet. This would not be possible without our horseplayers, both here in Texas and nationally. It was a great day.”

The post Record Handle at Sam Houston During Houston Racing Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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