(Thursday, September 4, 2008) - .Sam Houston Race Park will host the $335,200 Sam Houston Futurity (G1), which will feature 10 of the top two-year-old Quarter Horses in Texas, on Friday, September 5. Following up Friday night’s stakes race will be the $121,100 Sam Houston Derby (G2), the $23,550 TPHBA Derby (G3) and the $25,890 Colors of Houston Futurity (G2) on Saturday, September 6.

Friday’s stakes will feature Show Me Your Toole, who ran second in the TQHA Sale Futurity and was the fastest qualifier in the trials run on August 22. Trained by Toby Keeton, Show Me Your Toole will be ridden by Gilbert Ortiz as the 5-2 morning-line choice. Swingin N Ease, winner of the Firecracker Futurity at Delta Downs, and the TQHA Sires’ Futurity champion Lightning Round are top contenders in the 400-yard stakes.

The evening will also include the final concert event for the 2008 Verizon Wireless concert series at The Showgrounds (www.theshowgrounds.com) with performances by Jack Ingram and Shooter Jennings on the Bud Light Stage. In addition, the first 2,000 fans through the gates on Friday will receive a Bud Light/SHRP Koozie.

Ten of the fastest Quarter Horses from trials held on August 23 will return to the track for the $121,100 Sam Houston Derby (G2) on Saturday, September 6. Swingin Jess, the 3-1 favorite, will be ridden by G.R. Carter, Jr. and is trained by Heath Taylor. Taylor is coming off of a stellar weekend at Ruidoso Downs, having won the $1.9 million All-American Futurity on Monday, September 1. In addition, fans will enjoy free admission to The Park on Saturday

Quarter Horse racing continues with racing every Thursday and Friday through September 13 at Sam Houston Race Park.