Sam Houston Race Park announces its live racing calendar, highlighting 165 days of live racing between 2009 and 2011, featuring the return of live Thoroughbred racing and additional dates for The Park’s American Quarter Horse meet.
The request for live racing dates for Sam Houston Race Park was approved today by the Texas Racing Commission.

The Park will open the 15th Annual Thoroughbred Meet on Friday, November 27, 2009, and run through Saturday, April 3, 2010, with a total of 60 days of live racing over the course of the meet.

“We are eager to open our Thoroughbred meet and showcase some of the best live racing in Texas,” said President and Chief Operating Officer Andrea Young. “We have a tremendous opportunity to introduce our Thoroughbred racing fans to the many new improvements and changes to our facility since last year’s hurricane and know that these changes will greatly enhance the live racing product at The Park.”

Live Thoroughbred racing events will take place Thursday through Sunday in December (no live racing December 26 & 27); Thursday through Saturday in January; Thursday through Sunday in February; and Thursday through Saturday in March and April.

Highlights of the 2009/2010 Thoroughbred stakes schedule include: Texas Champions Day (December 5) featuring 8 stakes race events; the John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3) (January 30); Jim’s Orbit Stakes (February 20); the MAXXAM Gold Cup & Sam Houston Distaff (March 27).

The 2010/2011 Thoroughbred meet will return to The Park on November 26, 2010, and run through April 2, 2011. The 16th Annual Thoroughbred Meet will include 60 days of live racing at The Park.

The Park will host the 17th Annual American Quarter Horse Meet beginning Friday, May 1 through Saturday, August 15, 2010. The 45-day meet, which includes live racing dates acquired from Retama Park, will feature live racing in May to coincide with Triple Crown simulcast events; and live racing Thursday through Saturday June through August.

In addition to live racing events, The Park will continue to build upon the success of the summer post-race concert series and stand alone festivals throughout the spring and summer months. More information on live music events will be announced in 2010.

“The acquisition of the 2009 American Quarter Horse race dates from Retama Park proved successful for The Park in terms of overall attendance and handle, and we aim to capitalize on our live racing product in 2010 by providing live racing events and additional programming during Triple Crown dates in addition to taking on more race dates from Retama in 2010,” Young stated.

Simulcast events continue to take place daily from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on the Paddock Level of the building.