Sam Houston Race Park hosted the 12th running of the MBNA America Challenge Championships on Saturday, November 6. The crowd of 9,069 enjoyed the six Championship stakes races, and racing fans here and across the country helped to set a new live handle record for Sam Houston as a total of $1,335,862 was wagered on the ten live races.

The previous record of $1,138,394 was set on Friday, September 1, 2000. The northwest Houston racetrack also surpassed its previous all-source handle record of $1,631,524 set on September 1, 2000. With wagering still taking place on Los Alamitos, officials reported Sam Houston Race Park handled a total of $1,815,798.

"We knew that hosting this prestigious event would be great for our racetrack and Quarter Horse fans here and across the country," said Robert L. Bork, president and general manager of Sam Houston Race Park. "The success of this evening would not have been possible without the support of our friends at the American Quarter Horse Association. We are thrilled that this exciting night of racing also produced the highest Quarter Horse handle in the history of our racetrack."

November 6 was the final night of the 2004 American Quarter Horse meeting at Sam Houston Race Park. Live Thoroughbred racing resumes on Wednesday, November 17 and will continue through Sunday, April 10, 2005.