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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