Grand Prairie, Texas (Tuesday, March 8, 2016) - Thoroughbreds planning to compete during Lone Star Park's 20th annual Spring Thoroughbred Season began arriving Monday and will begin training when the track opens Wednesday. Live racing returns to Lone Star Park for a 50-date run on Thursday, April 7. The 15-week season will continue through July 17.

"New Yorkers use the groundhog to tell them when spring is coming. We use the horses to tell us," said Bart Lang, Director of Racing at Lone Star Park. "The first horses start training on Wednesday, so spring must be right around the corner."

Purse Increase

Horsemen participating this spring will benefit by an across-the-board purse increase.

"We have raised purses by $1,000 a race, which in some cases is over a 10% hike," Lang said. He also explained that he is pleased the race meeting is shaping up to be a successful one. He is encouraged stall applications for the upcoming season are on par with recent years.

"We look forward to getting back to racing after a long winter of uncertainties," added Lang.

Training Hours

Beginning Wednesday, March 9, the track will be open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with no break, but will be closed on Sundays in March. Beginning Monday, March 14, the clocker will be available for official workouts daily during training hours. And beginning on Tuesday, March 22, gate schooling begins each Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Two-Year-Olds in Training & Horses of Racing Age Sale

On Monday, March 21, the two-year-olds and horses of racing age catalogued to be sold during the Texas Thoroughbred Association's Two-Year-Olds in Training & Horses of Racing Age Sale will begin to arrive. The horses will be able to train over the main track daily in advance of the sale's under-tack show Saturday, April 2.

The sale will be held on Monday, April 4. For more information, contact Lone Star Park's racing office by email at racing@lonestarpark.com or by phone at (888) 4-RACING or (972) 237-1130.