Retama Park kicks off its eighth year of Thoroughbred horse racing on Friday, August 2. Live racing action runs through October 26, and will be held Thursday - Sunday until Labor Day. Starting September 4, racing will then switch to Wednesday - Saturday. Post time is 6:45 p.m. except on Sundays when first post is at 5:30 p.m.

Highlighting Retama Park's 24-race stakes program are the $100,000 El Joven for two-year-old colts and geldings and the $100,000 La Senorita for two-year-old fillies both to be run on August 31. In addition, Retama will host Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Night on October 12. Texas racing will be at its best as the fastest horses in the state complete in eight stakes races for over $500,000 in purse money.

Danny Pish, Retama Park's leading trainer in 2000 and 2001 is on site and ready to battle for the 2002 title. he will face stiff competition this year, however, from the nation's leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, who most recently added the Leading Trainer title from Lone Star Park to his already impressive resume. Roman Chapa, a perennial leading rider at Retama Park will also be back to vie for the Leading Jockey title. His chief competition is Curt Borque who finished just behind Chapa in fifth place at the recently ended Lone Star Park meet.

Opening weekend stakes action includes the $30,000 J.R. Straus Memorial Stakes on Friday, August 2, and the $50,000 Margarita Breeders' Cup Stakes on Saturday, August 3.