Sam Houston Race Park concluded its 2004 Quarter Horse meeting on Saturday, November 6 with the running of the MBNA America Challenge Championships.

The stellar night of racing was a fitting way to wrap up the extended 95-day meeting. The event attracted a crowd of 9,069 and racing fans here and across the country helped to set a new live Quarter Horse handle record 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. The combined live and guest handle for Saturday, November 6 was $1,845,224.

"Setting a new Quarter Horse handle record was an extremely rewarding way to finish the 2004 Quarter Horse meeting at Sam Houston Race Park," said Robert L. Bork, president and general manager of Sam Houston Race Park. "Hosting the MBNA America Challenge Championships and having the sensational Azoom win seven races here this meet were both memorable events for our racetrack and its employees."

SHRP Quarter Horse End of the Meeting Figures