Sam Houston Race Park announced that overnight purses at the Houston, Texas, track will be increased for the second time this season. The adjustment will be implemented on Wednesday, March 17, and will continue through the conclusion of the 2021 Thoroughbred Horse meet racing season on April 3.
All main track overnight purses will be increased by $6,000 and turf purses will be boosted by $1,000. The first purse increase was made on February 17 due to an extremely successful beginning of the meet. Sam Houston Race Park noted a handle increase of 40% in the five weeks of the season, bolstered by a record-setting handle of $5.3 million on its Houston Racing Festival card, which took place on January 31. Over the last four weeks, horseplayers have supported the four-day live racing schedule and continue to laud the racetrack's industry-low takeout of 12% on multi-race wagers.
One additional race day has been added to the 2021 Thoroughbred season. The Texas Racing Commission approved Sam Houston Race Park's request to add Wednesday, March 31 to the schedule. The meet. which began on January 8, will conclude on April 3 with live racing each Wednesday and Thursday at 4:00 pm (CT) and Friday and Saturday night card beginning at 6:45 pm.
“We are pleased to offer an additional day of racing and a second purse increase this meet,” said Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's senior director of racing operations. “After we announced our first increase, we cancelled four days of racing due to the winter storm in February that deeply affected Texas. Since then, we have been supported very well by our horsemen and horseplayers who continue to respond to our racing product.”
Texas Champions Day, which will take place on March 20, is the next premier racing night of the season. Each of the purses for the seven stakes saluting Texas-breds have been increased from $75,000 to $100,000.
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including a Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the racetrack, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club.
For more information on upcoming live racing, shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.
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