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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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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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Racing Exec Robert Bork Passes Away

Racing executive and former Sam Houston President Robert Bork passed away peacefully at his home in Houston June 11 at the age of 83.

“I lost count very early in my career about how many times I was asked if I was Bob Bork's son,” said Dan Bork, who serves as assistant racing secretary/stakes coordinator at Churchill Downs and racing secretary at Ellis Park. “My dad was known as an industry leader and greatly admired by so many accomplished horsemen and racing executives. It was way more than a job for him; he truly loved the sport of horseracing.”

Bork began his career in racing as a controller at Philadelphia Park. He became vice president and general manager of that venue and general manager of Garden State Park in New Jersey. He followed that as vice president, general manager and chief operating officer of Arlington International. Bork was hired as Sam Houston's senior vice president and general manager and was later promoted to president. He also served as director and secretary of the Thoroughbred Racing Association and chaired its 2020 Technology Committee.

“Bob Bork set a tremendous foundation for the growth of Sam Houston Race Park when he was hired in 1995,” said Dwight Berube, Sam Houston's vice president and general manager. “Throughout his 12-year tenure, he was admired by horsemen, horseplayers and employees and initiated many programs that have been emulated by racetracks across the country.”

Bork is survived by his wife of 58 years, Judith Bork; children Dina Ruggerio, Dan Bork and Michael Bork and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Bork, Jr; brother William Bork and sisters Janet and Karen. Funeral arrangements are pending and a Celebration of Life honoring Bork will be held at Sam Houston Race Park in the near future.

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Longtime Racing Executive Robert Bork Passes At Age 83

Robert Bork, who made a tremendous impact on the racing industry for over four decades, passed away peacefully at his home in Houston on June 11, at the age of 83.

Bork attended La Salle University in Philadelphia and after graduating, worked as an agent with the Internal Revenue Service. When Thoroughbred racing was legalized in Pennsylvania in 1969, he was hired by the Rooney Family and served as a controller at Philadelphia Park. He became vice president and general manager of Philadelphia Park and general manager of Garden State Park in New Jersey. He followed that as vice president, general manager and chief operating officer of Arlington International in Chicago.

Sam Houston Race Park opened as the first Class 1 racetrack in Texas in 1994. The following year, Bork was hired as its senior vice president and general manager. Under Bork's leadership, the northwest Houston racetrack came into prominence as one of the premier evening tracks in the country. Promoted to president of Sam Houston Race Park in August, 2002, he also held the position as senior vice president and general manager of (greyhound racing) Valley Race Park in Harlingen, Texas.

Supporting national initiatives for the racing industry was also a priority for Bork, who served as director and secretary of the Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA) and chaired its 2020 Technology Committee.

Bork was intrigued by the challenge of developing a racetrack in a new market after working at previously established properties.

“It is an interesting balancing act when you run a racetrack,” he explained. “You want to take care of your fans, because without their support, your business cannot grow. You also have to work closely with the horsemen and try to meet their needs and communicate with them on an ongoing basis. Finally, you have to have a good management team behind you, and we have a solid, dedicated group of professionals working at Sam Houston Race Park.”

Dan Bork, who serves as assistant racing secretary/stakes coordinator at Churchill Downs and racing secretary at Ellis Park, speaks proudly of his father's accomplishments in the racing industry.

“I lost count very early in my career about how many times I was asked if I was Bob Bork's son,” he said. “My dad was known as an industry leader and greatly admired by so many accomplished horsemen and racing executives. It was way more than a job for him; he truly loved the sport of horseracing.”

Dwight Berube, who worked for Bork throughout his Sam Houston Race Park tenure, is now the racetrack's vice president and general manager.

“Bob Bork set a tremendous foundation for the growth of Sam Houston Race Park when he was hired in 1995,” said Berube. “Throughout his 12-year tenure, he was admired by horsemen, horseplayers and employees and initiated many programs that have been emulated by racetracks across the country.”

Bork is survived by his wife of 58 years, Judith Bork; children Dina Ruggerio, Dan Bork and Michael Bork and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Bork Jr; brother William Bork and sisters Janet and Karen.

The family wanted to extend their sincere appreciation to the physicians and healthcare team at M. D. Anderson for their exceptional care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center or the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

Funeral arrangements are pending and a Celebration of Life honoring Bork will be held at Sam Houston Race Park in the near future.

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