(August 23, 2006) - The Friday, August 25 card at Sam Houston Race Park will feature nine trials for the $316,000 Sam Houston Futurity. A total of 85 Quarter Horses will compete for the top ten spots in the final of the Grade 1 event which will take place on Friday, September 8. Several stakes winners will be represented including Snowy Alibi owned by D D Lightsey. The talented son of This Snow Is Royal won the $343,305 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1) held on July 29. Trained by Janet Van Bebber, Snowy Alibi will once again be ridden by Alfonso Lujan in the sixth race of the evening.

Van Bebber will also saddle Streakin Illusively, who was the fastest qualifier for the TQHA Sale Futurity and finished third in the final. Streaking Illusively is owned by Lou Phillips and will be ridden in the eighth trial by Lujan.

On Saturday night, the card will include trials for the Sam Houston Derby as well as the finals of the $115,519 Dixie Stallion Stakes Futurity as well as four trials for the $122,000 Sam Houston Derby.

Eyes On the Form Tops the Qualifiers in Trials for the $115,519 Dixie Stallion Stakes Futurity

Sam Houston Race Park hosted trials on Friday, August 11 for the $115,519 Dixie Stallion Stakes Futurity. Eyes On the Form ($6.20), a 2-year-old filly bred in Texas by Mickey Tiner, was the fastest qualifier, completing her 350-yard trial in :18.107.

Cipriano Vidana rode the daughter of Mr Eye Opener, who was just making the second start of her career. Trained by David Guajardo, Eyes On the Form made her racing debut on April 16 at Remington Park. Shakin Lil Oro, trained by Heath Taylor and ridden by Gilbert Ortiz, was the second fastest qualifier, winning her trial in :18.150.

The ten fastest qualifiers will return to Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, August 26 for the finals.

Benefit Golf Tournament for the Racetrack Chaplaincy Set for Monday, August 28

There is still space available in the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America-Sam Houston Race Park will host a Benefit Golf Tournament on Monday, August 28, 2006 at Longwood Golf Club. Jockeys Jeff Jerman, Jeff Williams and Terry Stanton are all planning to play in the event.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit Sam Houston Race Park’s Chaplaincy program. The northwest Houston racetrack is one of the many racetracks across the country that benefit from the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America. This non-profit organization is instrumental in offering assistance and many programs to the horsemen, grooms, jockeys and other individuals who make their living in racing.

Sign in for the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America - Sam Houston Race Park golf tournament gets underway at 8:30 a.m. The Shotgun Start begins at 10:00 a.m. Entry fee is $75 per player and will include golf, catered lunch and a goodie bag. Longwood Golf Club is located at 13300 Longwood Trace in northwest Houston.

For additional information, or to enter the tournament, call Chaplain John Shumaker at (281) 807-7236.

Thoroughbred rider, Ted Gondron, Close to 2,000 Wins

Ted D. Gondron is approaching a personal milestone of 2,000 all time wins. Through August 22, Gondron was at 1,999wins. He is currently riding at Retama Park and will be back in action on Thursday, August 24.

Gondron has been a longstanding member of the Sam Houston Race Park jockey colony and is the all-time Thoroughbred leading rider with a total of 547 wins.

Special Labor Day Racing at Sam Houston Race Park

With a special post time of 1:30 p.m. on Monday, September 4, Sam Houston Race Park is the best destination for an afternoon of entertainment and great food.

The northwest Houston racetrack will also simulcast the $2,000,000 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. Two of the leading trainers at Sam Houston Race Park, Heath Taylor and John Buchanan have horses running in the prestigious race. Buchanan will saddle Genuine Botticelli, the fourth fastest qualifier and Dont Let Down, who was the sixth fastest qualifier in trials run on August 17. Taylor will run My First Passion and First Freeze.

There are many concession stands throughout the Grandstand featuring barbeque, hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, made to order pasta and so much more. The Winner’s Circle Restaurant offers a prime view of the horse track, a private television monitor and easy access to mutuel clerks for wagering. The Jockey Club is an exclusive restaurant and slates a top of the line buffet with salads, fresh fruit, appetizers, entrees and a complete dessert table.

Sam Houston Race Park Jockey, Trainer and Owner Standings

James Brooks continues to maintain his lead in the jockey standings. Brooks had an outstanding weekend, capturing six wins including both weekend stakes races. On Friday night, Brooks was aboard Streakin Lt in the $15,250 Harrisburg Stakes and met with trainer Judd Kearl in the winner’s circle following their victory. Streakin Lt was sent off at 10-1 odds and paid $22.20 to win. The Brooks-Kearl team made another appearance in the winner’s circle on Saturday night following the $15,200 TQHA Sires’ Cup Stakes. Brooks guided Winners Award to triumph and the 4-year-old colt paid $60.60 for the win. Brooks currently has 38 wins and the highest earnings of $279,137. Rodrigo Vallejo picked up four wins over the weekend and continues his second place standing, now with 35 wins. Jeff Jerman is currently ranked third with 26 victories while Alfonso Lujan follows closely in fourth place with a total of 25 winning mounts. Luis Rameriz rounds out the top five jockeys with 20 wins.

Judd Kearl dominates the trainer standings with 23 victories after a stellar weekend after saddling five winners, including Streakin Lt ($22.20) in the $15,250 Harrisburg Stakes and Winners Award ($60.60) in the $15,200 TQHA Sires’ Cup Stakes. Kearl has a total of 23 victories and $192,925 in earnings. Although Janet Van Bebber is ranked second in the standings with 18 wins after saddling three winners last weekend, she has the highest earnings of $290,214. Dave Correll remains in third place with 12 wins after a no-win weekend and is followed closely by Toby Keeton, who has 11 wins. Jesse Yoakum rounds out the top five with nine wins.

The five-way tie in the owner standings has been broken. J.C. Wells, owner of Harrisburg Stakes winner, Streakin Lt, and Joe Kirk Fulton hold the tie for the lead, each with six wins. Warner Croft, Bob Weik, Los Ladrilleros Horse Racing Co. are tied with five wins each, while Raul Rubalcava, D.D. Lightsey, Monty Brooks and Alex Villarreal have four wins each. D.D. Lightsey remains the leading owner in earnings with $166,464.

Daily Racing Form/NTRA Championship Qualifier Set for Saturday, September 23, 2006 at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park will host its seventh annual Daily Racing Form/NTRA Championship Qualifier on Saturday, September 23, 2006. The contest is open to all racing fans, 21 years of age or older but limited to the first 200 entries (two entries per person max). The top three finalists will win a trip to compete at Bally’s - Las Vegas for the 2007 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship.

The contest fee is $200 and includes a seat on the Club level of the Sam Houston Race Park Grandstand, a continental breakfast, a contest program, a complimentary buffet lunch and a Sam Houston Race Park gift.

Contestants will be required to make mythical $2.00 win and place wagers on 20 races throughout the day. Ten races will be designated as mandatory by Sam Houston Race Park with the remaining ten to be chosen by the participants. The individual winner will be determined by the highest bankroll from all $2.00 win and place bets at the end of the day. First place will receive $10,000, second place finisher will be awarded $6,000, $3,000 for third place, $2,000 for fourth place and $1,000 for fifth place. Participants who finish sixth through fifteenth place, will receive $300 each.

The three top finishers will represent Sam Houston Race Park in the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship on January 26-27 and receive complimentary entry into the finals, roundtrip airfare to Las Vegas and three nights hotel accommodations. A total of over $500,000 in cash prizes will be distributed in the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, the largest total purse in the eight-year history of the event.

For further information regarding the Daily Racing Form/NTRA Handicapping Qualifier on Saturday, September 23, please call Troy Lawrence at (281) 807-8801 or visit the Sam Houston Race Park web site at shrp.com.

August VIP Specials at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park continues the great offers and benefits for its VIP Club members. Each Wednesday in August, VIP Club members may choose to receive double points for swiping their VIP Club Card, or choose to receive a complimentary Saratoga or Del Mar program. Also, just for swiping the VIP Club Card, members will be entered in a drawing for $250, which will be held each Sunday. Admission is also free for all VIP Club members who visit the park during non-live racing hours. Race fans will enjoy taking advantage of the free admission to wager on the simulcast races from across the country.

There are many great incentives for joining the VIP Club, including the VIP point-earning program. For swiping the VIP card, members earn player points for a free dinner in the Winner’s Circle Restaurant, complimentary Box Seats and many other great rewards.

To become a VIP Club member, visit the Players Lounge located at the North end of the Grandstand on the Paddock Level. For more information about the benefits of the VIP Club stop by the Players Lounge or visit shrp.com.

Simulcasting This Weekend at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park will simulcast coast-to-coast racing action this week. On Saturday, Saratoga will present four stakes races including the 137th running of the $1,000,000 Travers Stakes. Bernardini and Bluegrass Cat headline the field for the Grade 1 event. and Racing fans are invited to wager on the $100,000 guaranteed Grand Slam and the $1 million guaranteed Pick 4 on races 8-11.

Del Mar’s stakes action includes the $300,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday, August 26 and the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap on Sunday, August 27.