Sam Houston Race Park and Horsemen’s associations from 11 states have submitted their selections for starting positions in the first-ever NTRA Great State Challenge presented by John Deere and Fed Ex and to be held on Saturday afternoon, December 7 at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. The NTRA Great State Challenge is comprised of six races, each worth $275,000 and boasting fields representing some of the finest state-bred runners in America. The state whose horses perform best in the six Challenge races will be declared the NTRA Great State Challenge Champion.

Modeled on the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, the Great State Challenge races are limited to horses from jurisdictions where the official state horsemen's association is an NTRA member. Great State Challenge Races are limited to 14 starters. The top eight NTRA-member horsemen's associations - California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Texas, based on current dues - have been guaranteed one horse in each race. Horses representing other state associations are then granted one position in the main body of the field. States are limited to two starters per race.

Invitations to horsemen will be sent on Monday, November 27. Post positions for all six NTRA Great State Challenge races will be drawn on Wednesday, December 4 at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans.

Among the top names submitted by state organizations and in line for automatic berths to the event are:
GSC CLASSIC: Grey Memo (California), Best of the Rest (Florida), Easyfromthegitgo (Kentucky)
GSC TURF: Forbidden Apple (Florida), Continental Red (California), Mystery Giver (Illinois)
GSC SPRINT: Disturbingthepeace (California), Day Trader (Kentucky), Deer Run (Maryland)
GSC DISTAFF: Take Charge Lady (Kentucky), Two Item Limit, (Illinois), Graceful Cat (Washington)
GSC JUVENILE: Funny Cide (New York), Posse (Kentucky), Only the Best (California)
GSC JUVENILE FILLIES: Humorous Lady (California), Midnight Cry (Kentucky), Parting (Texas)

The NTRA and Breeders' Cup Limited will fund a guaranteed purse of $175,000 for each race, plus $50,000 in purses for Breeders' Cup-nominated horses. An additional $50,000 comes from each participating state's breeders' fund, to be paid to each individual state-bred horse that finishes in an awarded position, making each race worth as much as $275,000.

The races are:

• NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies
  7 furlongs on the dirt for two-year-olds (fillies)
• NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile
  7 furlongs on the dirt for two-year-olds
• NTRA Great State Challenge Sprint
  6 furlongs on the dirt for three-year-olds and older
• NTRA Great State Challenge Turf
  9 furlongs on the turf for three-year-olds and older
• NTRA Great State Challenge Distaff
  8.5 furlongs on the dirt for three-year-olds and older (fillies and mares)
• NTRA Great State Challenge Classic
  9 furlongs on the dirt for three-year-olds and older

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horseracing interests, including the American Quarter Horse Association, charged with increasing popularity of horseracing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA and Breeders’ Cup Limited also conduct the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships consisting of eight races and $13 million in purses and awards, the Breeders’ Cup Stakes Program and the Great State Challenge. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Kentucky, and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA Web site, ntra.com, and at the Web site for the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, breederscup.com.

For more information or reservations for the NTRA Great State Challenge on Saturday, December 7, please call (281) 807-8760 or visit the Sam Houston Race Park web site at www.shrp.com.