(Grand Prairie, Texas - April 11, 2011) - Live Thoroughbred racing returns to the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Thursday night (April 14) at Lone Star Park with a scheduled first-race post time of 6:35 p.m. Admission gates open early at 4:30 p.m. with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at approximately 5:45 p.m.

The 15th running of the $50,000 Premiere Stakes, annually the first race run each year at Lone Star Park, gets the 2011 live racing season rolling. Run at one mile over the main track, for accredited Texas-bred 3-year-olds and upward, the Premiere has attracted a field of nine led by 2010 Premiere Stakes winner Coyote Legend.

Owned by Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., and trained by Bret Calhoun, leading trainer at the 2010 Lone Star Park Spring Thoroughbred Meeting, Coyote Legend will be ridden by Jamie Theriot. Theriot was aboard both of Calhoun’s winners at the 2010 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, Dubai Majesty in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) and Chamberlain Bridge in the BC Turf Sprint (G2).

Coyote Legend has been installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite by track oddsmaker Rick Lee.

“He’s doing very well,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “We never thought he was as good over turf as he is over dirt, but we needed to get a race into him, and that’s why we ran him over turf at Sam Houston last time. It really served as a perfect prep for this.”

Lydia’s Last Step, trained by J. R. Caldwell, and Mile Marker, trained by Kevin Peek, will be out to deny Coyote Legend in his title defense of the Premiere. Lydia’s Last Step enters the Premiere after recording back-to-back victories at Sunland Park in New Mexico, and Mile Marker posted a third place finish in the $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in his most recent race.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Cool Hand Val (Quincy Hamilton, 20-1); Epic Match (Larry Taylor, 30-1); Baggy Cat (Martin Escobar, 12-1); Mile Marker (Junior Chacaltana, 6-1); Lydia’s Last Step (Bryan McNeil, 2-1); Phantom Road (Chris Landeros, 10-1); Coyote Legend (Jamie Theriot, 7-5); Dusty Tunnel (Jose Figueroa, 30-1) and Goosey Moose (Lindey Wade, 15-1)

Opening Week Events And Promotions At Lone Star Park

Thursday, April 14 – Visit Lone Star Park on opening night and receive an entry form for your chance to win a $500 voucher in the Premiere Stakes Handicapping Contest--entry forms must be submitted by 6:15 p.m. Gates open early at 4:30 p.m. with Opening Ceremonies beginning at approximately 5:45 p.m. The first of ten live races begins at 6:35 p.m.

Friday, April 15 – Following the live nine-race program that begins at 6:35 p.m., the Randy Rogers Band kicks off the 2011 Lone Star Music Series. Concert is free with $5 general admission until 9 p.m. and $15 after 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 – The first of ten live races begins at 1:35 p.m. After the final race, catch guitar-legend Ted Nugent in concert. Concert is free with $5 general admission until 5 p.m. and $15 after 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 – First race post time for the nine-race program begins at 1:35 p.m. Family Fun Day features a special appearance by SpongeBob SquarePants. There will be clowns, face painters, bounce houses, pony rides and a petting zoo in our Family Fun Park from 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Senior Citizens’ Day and Military Discount Day. All senior citizens’, age 62 or older with valid I.D., or members of any branch of the military, with a valid military I.D., receive free general admission; Pepsi can offer, bring any Pepsi can to Lone Star Park and receive a Pepsi track pack, good for one (1) Free General Admission and one (1) Free Large Pepsi; Jazz Brunch, a live Jazz Trio will perform in Silks dining room from noon – 3 p.m.

Lone Star Park’s 52-day 2011 Spring Thoroughbred Season will run four days a week every Thursday and Friday at 6:35 p.m. (except Thursday, June 2 and Thursday, July 7 when there will be no live racing), and Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 p.m. starting on April 14. The Lone Star Million Day program on Memorial Day will start at 1:35 p.m. and special twilight programs with post-race holiday fireworks on Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4 (Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration) will commence at 5 p.m.

Lone Star Park’s 26-day, 2011 Fall Meeting of Champions for American Quarter Horses will be held from Sept. 16 to Nov. 12. For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com.