(Wednesday, July 29, 2009) - Sam Houston Race Park will host the $15,000+ Woodland Stakes on Friday, July 31, 2009. Favored Coups de Ville (5-2) will be looking to notch his second win of the 2009 Quarter Horse season. The three-year-old gelding, trained by James Gerhards, won an allowance race at The Park on Friday, July 17. Coups de Ville is owned by Dennis Maddox, and taking the reins will be jockey Gaspar Garcia.

The second favored horse, Heza Quick Fun (3-1), will be running the 870-yard distance for the first time.

“Coups de Ville has a good chance at winning this stakes,” commented Gerhards. “What will really help him is that he has a consistent history of races at the 870-yard distance. Not many of the other horses in this field do.”

The eight-horse field also features Stealing Dreams, Pretty Dashin Bye, Quick Flow, Travling Val, Manifold and Hawk Fan.

In addition, to live racing events, The Park will continue to hold the popular Value Day and Party on the Patio in the Fun Zone every Saturday featuring outdoor patio seating on the Pavilion Apron area, hot food off the grill, $2 draft beer, misting fans and the Verizon Wireless misting tent, washer board games, Wii Guitar Hero challenge, giveaways and more. Value Day Racing Fun 4-Pack tickets are just $19 and include: (4) live racing admission tickets, (4) hot dogs and sodas, and (2) live racing programs.

The 2009 American Quarter Horse meet at The Park continues with live racing events Thursday, Friday and Saturday through August 29. In addition, the Verizon Wireless Summer Concert Series on the Bud Light stage at The Showgrounds continues in August with performances from the Counting Crows with special guests Augustana on August 1st, and Sublime tribute band Badfish on August 8th! Tickets start at $15. For more information, visit www.theshowgrounds.com.