After Positive Hair Tests, Sam Houston Futurity Will Be Held As Non-Wagering Event; Trainers Barred From Entry Box

On Wednesday, the Paulick Report learned that six of the 10 finalists in Friday night's $731,650 Sam Houston Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, were found to have either clenbuterol or albuterol in hair samples taken on May 15.

Two other horses' sample sizes were insufficient and two of the 10 tested clean.

Thursday, Sam Houston Race Park announced that Friday's Grade 2 race will be held as a non-wagering event, and that trainers of horses testing positive will be barred from entering at the track, effective immediately.

The full statement from Sam Houston is as follows:

The Texas Racing Commission (TxRC) performed two separate testing methods on the qualifiers for the Sam Houston Futurity.

· Post-race Blood and Urine samples on the qualifying nights (May 7 and May 8)

· Hair Test samples on May 15th

Throughout this time period, all qualifiers were required to remain on Sam Houston Race Park (SHRP) property until the conclusion of the finals. TxRC staff notified SHRP that all post-race samples were negative for the ten qualifying participants prior to entry day on May 21 for the Sam Houston Futurity Finals.

On Wednesday, May 26, TxRC staff informed Sam Houston Race Park of the following results from the hair testing performed on May 15:

· Six (6) positive results for either Clenbuterol and or Albuterol (both prohibited in Texas)

· Two (2) results were deemed inconclusive

· Two (2) results were negative

A second hair sample was taken on May 26 of those horses who tested positive or inconclusive.

Based on this information, and to protect the interest of the wagering public, Sam Houston Race Park will conduct the running of this race as a NON-WAGERING event and those Sam Houston Futurity participants will compete for purse money only.

Effective immediately and until further notice, Sam Houston Race Park will stop accepting future entries from those trainers whose horses tested positive. Entries have already been accepted through Thursday, June 3, 2021.

Sam Houston Race Park reserves the right to issue further disciplinary actions against the trainers of these horses, pending actions of the Texas Racing Commission, including the results of second hair test samples if applicable.

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Clenbuterol Or Albuterol Found In Hair Tests In Six Of 10 Finalists For Friday’s $731,650 Sam Houston Futurity

Hair testing that detected the presence of clenbuterol or albuterol in a majority of the finalists in Friday night's $731,650 Sam Houston Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the Grade 2 race, the Paulick Report has learned.

Six of the 10 runners that qualified in the May 7-8 trials were found to have either clenbuterol or albuterol from hair samples that were taken May 15, a source with knowledge of the testing procedures told the Paulick Report. Two other horses' sample sizes were insufficient and two of the 10 tested clean, the source said. The test results by individual horses in the rich Futurity was not disclosed.

A second sample was taken from eight of the 10 horses (excluding the two that tested clean) on Wednesday, May 26, for re-testing.

Both clenbuterol and albuterol – classified by the Texas Racing Commission as Class 3 drugs with a severe Category A penalty – are prohibited in Texas for use in race horses of all breeds, in accordance with 16 TAC 319.3. Though they are bronchodilators designed to treat airway disease, both drugs can be misused for their steroidal effects that can increase lean muscle mass.

The decision to supplement plasma and urine testing with hair testing for the Sam Houston Futurity finalists was driven by the Texas Racing Commission, the source said. Robert Elrod, a spokesperson for the Texas Racing Commission, said he could not comment on the situation “because it is an open investigation.”

Track officials are said to be considering their options for the race, which is funded largely through a series of five nominations and sustaining payments that began in December 2019. The winner is slated to earn $292,660.

There are no also eligibles for the race, though positive drug tests are mentioned in the nomination form, which states: “Should a horse be disqualified for a positive drug test report or ineligibility of the horse according to the conditions of the race (i.e., age, breed, ringer, etc.) the next fastest qualifier shall assume the disqualified horse's position in the final.”

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Sam Houston Makes Good on Payout Mistake

After an investigation by Sam Houston Race Park and the Texas Racing Commission into a mandatory “Pick 5” payout after race 10 on Apr. 3, it was determined that only tickets holding five out of five of the winners were paid and no consolation payout was given to those holding tickets with four out of five winners.

Management at Sam Houston has identified the wagering locations of the consolation tickets and notified them to make immediate payment to those ticket holders who should have qualified for consolation payouts. With several live tickets in existence, patrons are urged to present their tickets for payment. The revised prices for the Apr. 3 wager are $9,926.05 for five winners and $43.15 for four winners.

In addition, Sam Houston will not reduce the original, but incorrect, payout of $13,234.75 for those who have already cashed their Pick 5 tickets.

The post Sam Houston Makes Good on Payout Mistake appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Sam Houston: Extended Meet Produces 28 Percent Average Handle Increase

The Sam Houston Race Park closed the curtain on a highly successful Thoroughbred live racing season on Saturday, April 3. The 43-day meet, which began on Jan. 8, was one of the best since the northwest Houston racetrack opened in 1994.

A total of $12.6 million in purses were offered for the 2021 Thoroughbred racing season supplemented by House Bill 2463. Passed by the 86th Texas Legislature on September 1, 2019, the bill contributes $25 million annually to the Texas horse racing industry, split equally between Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse interests. Sam Houston Race Park set a very lucrative $2.4 million stakes schedule, up from $1.8 million in 2020.

The Houston Racing Festival on Sunday, Jan. 31 jumped off the pages with a record-setting handle of $5.3 million on the day. The premier day of the season is highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic, won by Letruska, who is pointed to the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and victory by Spooky Channel in the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup. Horsemen and horseplayers responded in an unprecedented fashion, so much so, that purses were increased twice throughout the season.

The end result produced an all-sources handle of $96,440,736, an increase of 57 percent from $61,416,156 wagered over the 35-day meet in 2020 and $41,352,391 for the 2019 season encompassing 32 days.

Average daily handle over the 43 days of live racing was $2,242,808, a 28 percent increase over last year. A total of 424 races were run compared to 337 in 2020 with an average per race handle of $227,500 compared to $182,244 in 2020. Average field size for 2021 was 8.02.

In addition to longtime support from leading North American trainers Steve Asmussen and Karl Broberg, Sam Houston Race Park welcomed new horsemen including New Mexico-based Todd Fincher and west coast conditioners Frank Lucarelli and Jonathan Wong. Trainer J. R. Caldwell was one of many conditioners who began pointing their horses to Houston once it was announced that overnight purses would start at $225,00 per day.

“The 2021 thoroughbred season was a culmination of the blueprint we set into place in 2019,” said Sam Houston Race Park's Senior Director of Racing Operations Frank Hopf. “The success of the 2021 meet is a credit to the tremendous support SHRP received from the owners, trainers, horseplayers, hard-working staff and partners. We will build upon this meet and continue to improve moving forward.”

The leading owner, trainer and jockey awards were presented on the final day of the meeting. Steve Asmussen, won his 13th training title at the northwest Houston racetrack, furthering his respected legacy in Houston. He was honored as top trainer here in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017,2018 2019 and 2020.

Asmussen started 310 runners, finishing with a record of 70 wins, 38 seconds, 50 thirds and earnings of $1,884,600. He won two stakes this season with 2018 Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) Horse of the Year Direct Dial taking both the $75,000 H-Town Stakes and the $100,000 Star of Texas.

The nationally prominent horseman, who tops the Equibase leader board in 2021 in both wins and earnings, has always shown his allegiance to Texas racing. Encouraged by the passage of House Bill 2463 by the Texas Legislature on Sept. 1, 2019, which was initiated to boost the state's racing and breeding industry, Asmussen wanted to strengthen his commitment to Texas racing this year.

“The Bill has improved the quality of Texas racing,” stated Asmussen. “To have purses generated by equine generated tax revenues is an excellent model. You can see our surrounding states that have depended on casino funded purses struggle. Look at the handle this year at Sam Houston! This program needs to be supported.”

In addition to the purse and stakes increases, Asmussen lauds the track surfaces in Houston.

“The racing surfaces are excellent and frankly, the main track does not get the credit it deserves,” he added.

Asmussen once again, thanked his longtime assistant, Pablo Ocampo, for overseeing the day-to-day operation in Houston.

“Pablo is the longest continuous employee for me and continues to do a wonderful job,” said Asmussen of Ocampo, who will head next to Lone Star Park.

J. R. Caldwell was second in the standings with 34 victories, including back-to-back stakes victories by Sky Ride. Trainer Austin Gustafson had his best showing this year, winning 29 races and Karl Broberg rounded out the top four conditioners with 22 winners.

This was the seventh leading owner title for Asmussen, who began his streak here in 2005. His runners won 18 races this meet. End Zone Athletics, Inc. continues to be a strong supporter of the Sam Houston meet, finished second with 10 victories. Michael J. and Linda Mazoch finished third with eight wins. Four owners tied for fourth in the standings: Washington based owners Chad and Josh; Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; Empire Racing Stables LLC and Keene Thoroughbreds LLC.

Jockey Stewart Elliott picked up his first leading rider title at Sam Houston Race Park in pretty much gate-to-wire fashion. The nationally respected veteran rode first call for Asmussen this meet, riding 62 winners from 271 mounts, earning $1,597,545 and finishing in the money at a lofty 55 percent. The successful union between Elliott and Asmussen began in Houston one year ago and continued at Lone Star Park and Remington Park.

“Stewart brings professionalism and consistency in every race he rides,” stated Asmussen.

In turn, Elliott shared his gratitude to the Hall of Fame conditioner.

“I especially have to thank Steve who kept me loaded up pretty good throughout the meet,” he said.

In accepting his leading rider award, Elliott also acknowledged the support of his wife, Lilibeth and son Christopher, as well as his agent, Scott Hare.

Versatile on turf and dirt, Elliott guided Texas-bred Direct Dial to his two stakes wins this season calling the W.S. Farish homebred “a really cool horse”.

Elliott, 55, will head to Lone Star Park for their 2021 Thoroughbred meet. He began riding in 1981 and has a remarkable 5,133 career wins, including the victory aboard 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones. Retirement talk will have to wait for now, as Elliott is truly enjoying this stage of his exceptional career.

“It's been great,” he acknowledged. “I'm looking forward to Lone Star and hope to keep things going.”

Ry Eikleberry was a new addition to the Sam Houston jockey colony this year and made an impressive debut, winning 42 races to finish second in the standings. Leandro Goncalves also had an excellent meet, with 41 victories, including his 2,000th career race on March 27. Lane Luzzi continues to be one of the up and coming riders in the region. The son of New York veteran jockey Mike Luzzi made 35 trips to the winner's circle to finish fourth this year.

Sam Houston Race Park will host its annual Quarter Horse meet beginning Friday, April 23. The 23-day season will continue through Saturday, June 12. A complete list of the 2021 Quarter Horse schedule, including trial dates, is available on shrp.com.

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