Texas Commission Approves Expanded Thoroughbred Dates At Sam Houston

The Texas Racing Commission approved 2022 race dates at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 27.

Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2022 live racing season on Thursday, Jan. 6 with an expanded 50-day Thoroughbred meet. Racing will be held Thursdays through Saturdays, and the Thoroughbred meet will conclude on Saturday, April 9.

Sam Houston was granted 46 Thoroughbred days in 2021 and had one of the most successful seasons since it opened in 1994 as the first Class 1 racetrack in Texas. One of the major highlights was its $5.3 million handle for the annual Houston Racing Festival. Houston Ladies Classic (G3) winner St. George Stable's Letruska continues to deny her rivals in graded stakes competition across the United States.

Sam Houston also received approval for their annual Quarter Horse racing season. The 25-day meet will begin on Friday, April 22 and continue through Saturday, June 18.

The Commission also approved 48 Thoroughbred dates from April 28 through July 24 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Tx., with races held Thursday through Sunday.

A total of 78 Quarter Horse dates were approved across three tracks: Lone Star, Sam Houston, and Retama (Selma, Tx.)

Eight mixed dates were also approved for the Gillespie County Fair.

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Texas Summer Yearling Sale Attracts Record Entries

The Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale, set for Monday, Aug. 30, at Lone Star Park, will feature a record number of entries with nearly 250 yearlings consigned to the Southwest's biggest auction. The sale, held jointly by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park, will begin at 10 a.m. in the sales pavilion on the grounds of the Dallas-area track.

“This will easily be our largest sale since taking the reins from Fasig-Tipton in 2016,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We've seen some solid growth over the past few years, despite the challenges of the health pandemic, and now we've really hit a milestone this year. We have several new consignors for this sale, and the sire power is stronger than I can ever remember seeing here.”

In addition to nearly 250 yearlings, there are three 2-year-olds in the sale.

“Texas racing and breeding have been on the upswing thanks to the Horse Industry Escrow Account authorized by the Texas Legislature, which has helped boost purses and breeding incentives,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “That in turn has increased interest in our sales and allowed us to develop a consignor rebate program. We are also pleased to introduce the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Derby to be run in 2023 to complement the very popular Texas Thoroughbred Sales Futurity.”

Details on the Sales Derby are still being finalized, but the race for sale graduates is expected to offer two divisions (one for fillies and one for colts/geldings) with an estimated purse of $75,000 apiece at Sam Houston Race Park. The Sales Futurity also offers two divisions at $100,000-estimated apiece at Lone Star.

The TTA and Lone Star will host a pre-sale party for consignors and buyers on Sunday, August 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alysheba room on the second floor of the Lone Star grandstand.

The yearling sale comes on the heels of the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale held in April, which posted the highest gross, average and median since the TTA and Lone Star took over both sales in 2016.

Online bidding and live online video will be offered on this sale. For more information and to view the sale catalogue, go to www.ttasales.com.

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Lone Star Meet Concludes With Solid Handle, Attendance Numbers

Lone Star Park concluded its 25th Thoroughbred Racing season on Sunday, July 11 handling a daily average of $1,693,866 in merged handle (Live on-track plus Export) and a daily average of $1,459,096 specifically in export, over the 48-day meet, which was their most since 2006 in both categories, not including last year's unique pandemic season.

Average daily grandstand attendance on weekends and holidays for the meet was just over 4,000 per day, which, when compared to similar days, was only a four percent decline from 2019.

“The attendance figures were a very positive takeaway for the meet” said Brandon Leigh, Lone Star Park's Director of Marketing & Player Development. “There is lots of momentum to build upon for next year, considering that a majority of our indoor reserved seating areas were limited to just 50 percent capacity this year.”

The on-track fans wagered a daily average of $234,770 in Live Handle, the most since 2018.

Boosted in part by the passage of House Bill 2436 last year, the total amount of purses paid out to horsemen during the 48-day season was $13,692,325, the highest level since 2005.

The highlight of the meet was undoubtedly Lone Star Million Day on Memorial Day, returning after a ten-year hiatus. The on-track fans wagered $904,299 in Live Handle, the most since Memorial Day in 2008. The Export Handle was $5,494,680, setting the all-time record for a single day at Lone Star Park, not including the 2004 Breeders' Cup.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen earned his 14th training title at Lone Star Park. He visited the winners circle 71 times from 344 starts. His earnings total for the season were $1,999,134. As of this writing, Asmussen is 19 wins away from becoming the all-time leading trainer in North America in history.

Jockey Stewart Elliott won his first Lone Star Park riding title. The top rider won 71 races from 317 starts and earned $1,807,735 in purse money.

Karl Broberg's End Zone Athletics' Inc. was tops in the owner category with a total of 40 wins from 184 starts. The stable earnings total was $797,651.

Lone Star Park's 2021 Fall Meeting of Champions begins Friday, September 17 and runs through Saturday, December 18.

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Dallas Keen Doubles Up In Sunday’s Summer Turf Festival At Lone Star

Sunday's Summer Turf Festival at Lone Star Park saw trainer Dallas Keen send out the winners of the first two legs of the all-stakes all-turf pick four. First it was Nancy L. Lock's My Boanerges winning the $75,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint, a five furlong contest, under jockey Rodolfo Guerra. The 5-yr-old son of Diabolical claimed his second stakes victory here at Lone Star Park this meet, adding to his victory in the $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge Stakes in the slop after it was switched to the main course after monsoon like rains on Memorial Day.

In what was close to a repeat performance, My Boanerges ($8.40) dueled for the early lead then shook clear in the turn. He was asked passed the furlong marker and responded well to keep second place finisher and favorite, Archidust, who broke in the air, at bay by three quarters of a length. Share the Upside got the show followed by Seven Scents and Quarky. Bob's Bad Boy was a late scratch.

Final time was :55.68 seconds on a firm turf course.

Again trainer Dallas Keen sent Tony Crognale and Fred Dullano's Curlin's Journey ($4.60) out for the win in the $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes, a mile & a sixteenth turf contest for fillies & mares, 3-yr-olds & up. This 6-yr-old daughter of Curlin was well reserved early on the backstretch, advanced on the far turn, roused passed the furlong marker, responding well to get clear in the final sixteenth. Luis Quinonez was aboard for the two-length victory.

Valentine's Day proved to be no match late for the winner, but was clearly second best. Brandon's Babe rallied late for show. In fourth place was Tizahra followed by Zamzam, Needs No Alibi and Elle's Town completed the order.

Final time was 1:42.16. Fractions were 24.32, 48.84, 1:12.23 and 1:36.24.

The $75,000 Chicken Fried Stakes for fillies & mares, 3-yr-olds & up at five furlongs on turf was won by favorite, Yes It's Ginger owned by Brilliant Racing LLC and trained by Gregory D. Foley.

With Reylu Gutierrez in the irons, Yes It's Ginger ($7.60) a 5-yr-old daughter of Yes It's True, vied inside for the early lead, made a bid leaving the turn to get clear then drew off in the final sixteenth to win by four lengths over a game Uptownblingithome in second. Canoodling finished well to gain third followed by Stormieis Blue, Ima Discreet Lady, A Bit of Both, Raintree Starlet and Quick Quick Quick.

Final time was :55.69 seconds.

The final stake on the card was the $75,000 Singletary Stakes, a mile and an eighth turf contest for 3-yr-olds & up.

Carson McCord's Artie's Rumor, trained by Ron Moquett was the winner of the Singletary. Claimed for $40,000 at Churchill last month, this proved the perfect spot for his first start with his new connections. It was his first ever trip to Lone Star Park and it suited him well.

Artie's Rumor ($14.00) with David Cabrera up, settled back early, moved out four wide down the backstretch to be clear, made a move on the turn while still four wide and continued through the stretch to prove best by two and three quarters of a length at the wire. Hard Attack rallied well for second and Carlea's Dream hung late. But was able to save third. Fourth place finisher was Henley's Joy, then Don'task Don'ttell, favorite Me and Mr. C, Colloquist and Tapit Wise completed the running order. Popular Kid was a late scratch.

Final time for the distance was 1:48.05 behind fractions of 24.57, 48.31, 1:11.95 and 1:36.06.

Live racing resumes Monday with an eight race card. Gates open at 1 p.m. General Admission is free! First race post time is 2:35 p.m.

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