(Tuesday, July 22, 2003) - This weekend marks the return of the Texas Summer Showdown and TQHA Yearling Sale to Sam Houston Race Park. The action begins on Friday, July 25 with an excellent card featuring five stakes races with $175,000 in purses. On Saturday, July 26, the TQHA Yearling Sale will take place in the air-conditioned comfort of the Sam Houston Race Park Pavilion Centre.

The stakes races for the Texas Summer Showdown will be run at several different distances. The $40,000-added Classic Chevrolet Stakes, at a distance of 400 yards drew a field of eleven including defending champion, Rare Fasteroid. The 5-year-old son of Rare Form paid $21.00 to win last year but will not go ignored this year. Rider Alfonso Lujan gets the call for trainer Michael Zingelmann.

One of the most exciting races of the Texas Summer Showdown is the $40,000-added Barnmaster Sprint Stakes, a 250 yard sprint. 2001 Barnmaster champion, Turfinator, drew post position two for trainer Jesse Yoakum. He will face some stiff competition from Randys Pop Pop, winner of the 2001 TQHA Sales Futurity. Trained by Bobby Martinez, Randys Pop Pop will be ridden by Sam Houston Race Park leading rider, J. R. Ramirez. The 8-year-old Tiger Toole is another tough addition to the field. He set a new track record of :13.10 for the distance of 250-yards at Delta Downs on May 23. John Hamilton will ride for trainer Roy Roberts.

Friday’s card will also feature the running of the $23,850 John Deere Texas Challenge (G3). Defending champion, Wasting No Cash from the barn of Heath Taylor, was the fastest qualifier in the trials run on July 13 with a time of :45.170. He drew post position number six and regular rider, Gilbert Ortiz will ride for owner Bob Gaston. Emilio, trained by Janet Van Bebber, drew the enviable rail post position for the John Deere Texas Challenge. The 5-year-old gelding will be ridden by Alvin Brossette.

The TQHA Yearling Sale, with an expected 250 yearlings going into the auction ring, will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26. Post time for the Texas Summer Showdown that evening at Sam Houston Race Park is set for 7:00 p.m. For more information on the Texas Summer Showdown and its related activities, call (281) 807-8760 or visit the Sam Houston Race Park web site, www.shrp.com.

Successful Surgery for Streakin Sin Tacha

Streakin Sin Tacha, Co-World Champion and 2002 Sam Houston Race Park Horse of the Meeting, had surgery yesterday to repair a chip in his left knee. The procedure, performed in Elgin, went extremely well according to his owner/trainer, Janet Van Bebber.

"He took a bad step in his last race (the MBNA Texas Challenge Championship in July 12)," said Van Bebber. "I knew something was wrong; I know this horse so well. First I was sick about it, but the prognosis is excellent and we have every reason to believe that he will be back in training in the next few months and hopefully will return at Lone Star and the Champion Of Champions at the end of the year."

Zookie Street, trained by Heath Taylor, captured the MBNA Texas Challenge Championship and came out of the race with no problems. Taylor is pointing his grade 1 winner to the Sam Houston Classic on August 29.

Sam Houston Race Park Jockey Standings

J. R. Ramirez continues to lead in the jockey standings heading into the fifth week of the meeting. He won four races last week to lead all riders with a total of 24 wins. Eddie Cox, Jr. moved into second in the standings with 16 wins and Martin Rubalcava follows with 14 trips to the winner’s circle. Randy Edison has 13 wins and Gilbert Ortiz is rapidly moving up in the standings with 12 wins. Rider Jesse Sauceda had a big night on Sunday, July 20, winning four races on the card.

Sam Houston Race Park Trainer and Owner Standings

Janet Van Bebber, who won the training title at Sam Houston Race Park in 2001 and 2002, is back on top in the standings. She won four races last week and has a total of 11 wins for the meeting. Anthony Arey surged into second place with ten wins and Duane Hartsell rounds out the top three with nine wins to date. Heath Taylor and Rodolfo Sanchez are tied with eight wins each.

Geral Dewitt, last year’s leading owner, had a nice week, adding three more wins to lead all owners with a total of eight wins. Fletcher Huskey and Bob Weik are tied for second with three wins ten owners each have two wins this meeting.

Chaplaincy Silent Auction to Raise Money for the Jockey’s Crisis Fund

This Friday and Saturday, the Sam Houston Race Park Chaplaincy will have a silent auction and a raffle to benefit the Jockey’s Crisis Fund and the Racetrack Chaplaincy of Texas. The silent auction will slate an array of items from jewelry to special memorabilia from the Houston Texans and the Houston Astros. There will also be a raffle for a Fred Stone lithograph of Seabiscuit on the Club level of the grandstand on Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Breeders’ Cup Future Bet Offered this Weekend at Sam Houston Race Park

Racing fans interested in placing a future wager on the 2003 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships will have their chance this weekend. Sam Houston Race Park will host the first of three separate three-day wagering pools. Wagering will begin on Friday, July 25 and close on Sunday, July 27.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has set the fields for this weekend's inaugural Breeders' Cup Future Bet.

There will be 23 horses listed as candidates for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Sprint and Classic as well as a 24th betting interest, which will cover the mutuel field of all other Thoroughbreds. Wagers are for win betting only, with a minimum $2.00 wager accepted. There are no refunds or substitutions allowed in the event that a horse listed in the future wager does not compete in the Distaff, Sprint or Classic.

In addition to this weekend’s pool, there will be three other weekend pools: August 9 -11; August 30 -September 2 and September 20 -22. Further information is available on the NTRA web site, ntra.com.

Jiffy Lube Texas Music Revolution Continues at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park's popular Jiffy Lube Texas Music Revolution presented by 100.3 KILT, American Airlines, Budweiser and Coca-Cola, continues this Friday with Chris Cagle.

Cagle made his first debut in an elementary talent show and was hooked on the thrill and excitement. At age 19, he started writing songs and performing in Texas clubs. He moved to Nashville and met legendary writer, Harlan Howard. Cagle polished his song-writing skills and a few years later released his debut album, Play It Loud. He is now most known for hits like, "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out" and "My Love Goes On & On". Cagle has just released a self-titled album in April of this year, which features "What A Beautiful Day" and will be making his first appearance at Sam Houston Race Park.

From 7:00p.m.-9:00 p.m., patrons may enjoy the Concert Happy Hour, when beer is only $1. For reserved seating or more information, call 281-807-8760 or visit www.shrp.com.

Sam Houston Race Park Hosts 12th Anniversary of Epicurean Evening

Sam Houston Race Park in conjunction with the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce will host the 12th Anniversary Epicurean Evening on Thursday, July 24. The "taste fest" event will be held on the club level of the Sam Houston Race Park grandstand from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
The event, which is open to the public will showcase some of the area’s hottest restaurants including Boudreaux’s Cajun Kitchen, Café Express, CiCi’s Pizza, Great American Grill, Hooters, Oscar’s Creamery, Resa’s Prime Steakhouse & Piano Bar, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Sweet Tomatoes and Sam Houston Race Park.

The 12th Anniversary Epicurean Evening will take place during the Thursday evening card at Sam Houston Race Park, which will feature ten live, exciting American Quarter Horse races. Post time for the first race is 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the Epicurean Evening are available at the Northwest Chamber of Commerce for $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. They may also be purchased on the night of the event at Sam Houston Race Park for $10.00 in addition to the $3.00 admission to the park. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Northwest Assistance Ministries and the Barbara Bush Library. For further information, call the Northwest Chamber at (281) 440-4160 or Sam Houston Race Park at (281) 807-8760.

Equine Expo To Be Held on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park is proud to host an Equine Expo this Saturday, July 26. Co-hosted by CountryStyle, TX Magazine, the Equine Expo will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and will feature many interesting wares including antiques, farm and agricultural, clothing and accessories, home decor, veterinary services, consumer services and more! The Equine Expo will take place in the Pavilion Centre.

Also on Saturday evening, the northwest Houston racetrack will be giving away free caps to the first 3,000 fans and will have prize drawings, live music and will offer a free wagering seminar with Sam Houston Race Park's Dr. Reid McLellan and AQHA's Ryan Sherman.

For more information, call 281-807-8760.