(Friday, September 13, 2002) - Sam Houston Race Park and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) kicked off a nine-week online handicapping series on Saturday, June 29, 2002.

The Sam Houston Race Park Online Handicapping Series gave American Quarter Horse players across the country an opportunity to compete for cash and a trip to Sam Houston Race Park for the final weekend of the contest. Patrons logged onto the Sam Houston Race Park web site and were asked to make mythical $2.00 win, place and show selections on four Sam Houston Race Park live American Quarter Horse races.

The contestant with the highest cumulative total each week won a trip for two to Houston to compete in the finals of the contest on Saturday, September 7. Each finalist received airfare, hotel accommodations, dinner at Sam Houston Race Park and a $100 betting voucher. The nine finalists were Terina Deshayes, Susan Butler, Mark Lucas, Charles McLaughlin, Louis Schroer, Dudley Dawkins, L.T. Collins, who was unable to attend due to Tropical Storm Fay and Nancy Johnson.

The nine finalists made mythical $20 win, place, and show selections on the evening's card of the final night of the 2002 Sam Houston Race Park American Quarter Horse meeting. Nancy Johnson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was the grand prize winner of $2,500 based on her total of $1,052 in earnings for the night. Her winning selections included Sam Houston Derby winner, Spark A Fortune ($34.00) and Chunk of Change ($15.80) in the Paint N' Appy Big Cap. Dudley Dawkins of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma received $1,000 for his highest cumulative bankroll over the nine-week series.

"This was a great opportunity for race fans across the country to follow our live American Quarter Horse meeting," said Kerry Graves, director of marketing at Sam Houston Race Park. "With our full fields and extremely competitive racing program, handicappers had to be on top of their game to qualify for the finals in Houston. The competition on September 7 was very exciting for the participants and our local racing fans."