(September 25, 2002)- Sam Houston Race Park will present the second Breeders' Cup Marathon contest on Tuesday, October 1. The contest will give patrons an exciting chance to win a trip for two to the 2003 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships and cash prizes.

The Breeders' Cup Marathon is a weekly contest where patrons compete against each other to collect the highest total number of points throughout a four-week period. There is no entry fee required and points will be rewarded for winners selected from designated tracks racing Monday through Friday.

The first week of competition begins on Tuesday, October 1, and for each correctly selected winner, contestants will earn one point. Week two of the competition winners earn double points, third week triple and the final week each winner will earn quadruple points.

"We began this contest last year as a means of building interest in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, which has always been a big simulcast day at Sam Houston Race Park," said Kerry Graves, director of marketing and sales. "Our fans enjoyed the promotion and we're pleased to offer this four-week opportunity to earn prize money and a trip to the 2003 Breeders' Cup."

Along with a trip to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships in 2003, patrons can also win weekly prizes. Each weekly high point earner will win $700. Second receives $200 and third will be awarded $100.

Sam Houston Race Park will simulcast The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, which is considered by many to be the greatest day in Thoroughbred racing, on Saturday, October 26. Racing fans will have the opportunity to watch and wager on the prime event while dining in the Sam Houston Race Park Winner's Circle restaurant.

Live Thoroughbred racing will begin on Friday, November 1 and continue through March 30, 2003.

For more information on Sam Houston Race Park or the Breeders' Cup Marathon call (281) 807-8760 or visit the SHRP Contest Corner.

The Houston Chapter of the Leukemia Society of America will once again host their Light the Night Walk at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, September 28. The 2 mile walk will begin at 8:15 p.m. in the Sam Houston Race Park Pavilion Centre. Participants will carry a red balloon to represent Leukemia patient supporters and white balloons for cancer survivors.

All funds raised through the Light the Night Walk event will support the Society's mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Registration will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Sam Houston Race Park Pavilion Centre. For more information or to register, call 877-LTN-WALK or visit www.lightthenight.org.

The Sam Houston Race Park racing office is currently processing stall applications for the 2002/2003 Thoroughbred meeting. Live racing returns on Friday, November 1 and the first condition book covering races from November 1 - November 29 will be available online as of September 30.

The stable area will open on October 16 and horses can return to the racetrack for training on October 19. Horsemen who would like a copy of the Winter/Spring Thoroughbred Stakes book may contact the Racing Office at 1-800-807-RACE.