The 2004 Sam Houston Race Park American Quarter Horse meeting will expand to four nights each week beginning Thursday, July 29. The live racing season kicked off on April 23 with racing each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The return of Thursday evening racing will be enhanced by an exciting special event on Thursday, July 29 as Sam Houston Race Park will host the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce's 13th Annual Epicurean Evening. Over 20 local restaurants will offer samples of their finest culinary delights with all proceeds to benefit local charities.

On Friday, July 30, one of the premier weekends of the Quarter Horse meeting, the Texas Summer Showdown, gets underway. The TQHA Yearling Sale which has been expanded to a two-day event, opens at 12:00 noon. Due to a record number of yearlings expected to pass through the sales ring, the 2004 TQHA Yearling Sale will take place on Friday and continue on Saturday, July 31. The Equine Expo will be held in the Pavilion Centre on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A diverse array of booth exhibitors will display equine merchandise, including services and products geared to not only racing, but also to all equine-related interests.

On Friday evening, Sam Houston Race Park will host the Texas Summer Showdown stakes races, with the $40,000-Added Barnmaster Sprint Stakes (RG3), the $20,000-Added TQHA Starter Stakes, the $40,000-Added Classic Chevrolet Stakes (RG3) and the $40,000-Added TQHA "550" Stakes (RG3). Following Friday night's races, popular Texas Country Music singer/ songwriter, Roger Creager, will be the featured performer in the Jiffy Lube Texas Music Review.

The TQHA Yearling Sale will resume on Saturday, July 31 at 11:00 a.m. The Saturday evening card will feature the trials for the 2004 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1).

"We are pleased to announce the return of Thursday night racing and to hosting the Epicurean Evening, which is an outstanding community event," said Robert L. Bork, Sam Houston Race Park president and general manager. "The TQHA Yearling Sale and Texas Summer Showdown races attract horsemen from all over the country and we look forward to a very successful weekend."

The 2004 American Quarter Horse meeting will continue each Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a special live racing card also offered on Monday, September 6 for the Labor Day holiday. The meeting will conclude on Saturday, November 6 with the running of the prestigious MBNA Challenge Championships.