(Saturday, May 1, 2010) - It was a memorable day at the races! More than 13,200 fans came out to Sam Houston Race Park for live racing and simulcast of the 136th Running of the Kentucky Derby (Gr. I), presented by Gallery Furniture. Total attendance for opening weekend events, which also included live racing along with simulcast of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday, was 17,319. One lucky patron placed a $1 superfecta wager on the Derby and won more than $101,000!

Saturday afternoon featured a 10-race card offering live racing events opposite simulcast races from Churchill Downs, along with the $15,000 Gallery Furniture Stakes, the first stakes race of the 2010 American Quarter Horse meet.

The Gallery Furniture Stakes set off as the seventh race and showcased three-year-olds and up racing a distance of 350 yards. Favorite Point of Deception came on late, but it was not enough to catch a steady driving Charal Kid. Charal Kid is trained by Eusevio Huitron and owned by the Malinche Cattle Co., Inc. The four-year-old was ridden to victory by veteran jockey Santos Carrizales.

“This seemed like an easy win for this horse,” commented Carrizales. “He broke well and kept the pace, ending with a strong drive. I’m very pleased with this horse tonight.”

Charal Kid finished in a time of :17.78 with a commanding speed index of 95. Betting fans went home with $4.80 on the win.

Final placement featured Surviving Success in second and a dead heat for third between La Jolla Suspect and Point of Deception, who were followed under the wire by Johnny One, Chilly Royale and Newarcos Bambina.

In addition to live racing events, Sam Houston Race Park hosted a full day of racing events, with simulcast of the 136th Running of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs, complete with traditional mint juleps, Derby memorabilia, and a Derby Hat Contest which paid out $250 cash to first place winner Diane Howard.

The Verizon Wireless post-race concert series on the Bud Light stage kicked off immediately following live racing and the final simulcast race from Churchill Downs with a performance from The Marshall Tucker Band and Molly Hatchet, presented by KTBU-TV Houston’s Channel 55.