(Houston, Texas - November 14, 2010) - Live Thoroughbred Racing returns to Sam Houston Race Park on Friday, January 21, 2011. The 18th Annual Live Thoroughbred Racing Meet will be highlighted by one of the strongest stakes schedules since The Park’s opening in 1994 with 14 stakes races totaling $1.1 million in purses over the course of the 27-day meet. The Park is also pleased to announce the return of Monday racing, which was first introduced in March 2010.

Live Thoroughbred racing will feature a major stakes event every Saturday with the meet concluding on Monday, March 7th. Live racing events will be held every Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (7 p.m.), Sunday (5 p.m.) and Monday (1:20 p.m.).

The 2011 Thoroughbred Stake Schedule includes:

Texas Champions Day - January 22
$100,000 Star of Texas Stakes
$50,000 Richard King Stakes
$50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes
$50,000 San Jacinto Stakes
$50,000 Yellow Rose Stakes
$50,000 Bara Lass Stakes
$50,000 Groovy Stakes

$200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup - January 29
$50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes - February 5
$50,000 Rail Splitter Stakes - February 12

Texas Stallions Day - February 19
$100,000 Jim’s Orbit Stakes
$100,000 Two Altazano Stakes

$50,000 Sam Houston Distaff - February 26
$150,000 MAXXAM Gold Cup - March 5

Live American Quarter Horse racing will start on Friday, March 11th and run through Sunday, May 15th with races every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Park’s Racing Department is currently working with the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) on setting the 18th Annual American Quarter Horse stakes schedule. For the full calendar of Sam Houston Race Park’s 2011 live race dates, visit www.shrp.com.