(Wednesday, January 19, 2005) - The draw for the $100,000 MAXXAM Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park took place today. The MAXXAM Gold Cup is the highlight of the Saturday, January 22 card which will also include the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup and the $50,000 Sam Houston Distaff Handicap.

This year's field includes Colonial Colony, a 7-year-old son of Pleasant Colony, owned by Chris Nolan and trained by Dallas Stewart. He had a major career milestone last June when he won the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Dismissed by the betting public, he won at odds of 62-1, beating Perfect Drift and four others in the field. He has bankrolled $865,205 in his career and made his last start in the Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds on December 31, finishing fourth.

"He seems to be doing well," said Stewart from his barn at Fair Grounds. "He had a decent race here and I believe he will like the (added) distance on Saturday. He won his Grade 1 at the same distance and for him, the further the better."

Trainer Neil Howard will ship in Alumni Hall owned by William Farish, James Elkins and W. Temple Webber. The 6-year-old son of A. P. Indy has only made 10 starts since breaking his maiden at Keeneland. He captured the $75,000 Black Tie Affair Handicap at Arlington Park last July and ran second in last month's Louisiana Handicap. Intelligent Male from the barn of Cole Norman has won five of his last six races including the $75,000 Sams Town at Delta Downs on December 4. Wally's Choice, winner of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on November 21 is also among the contenders for the 2005 MAXXAM Gold Cup. Sam Houston Race Park stakes winner, Goosey Moose will be saddled by leading Sam Houston Race Park trainer Danny Pish.

The Texas-bred 4-year-old gelding triumphed in the $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes on Texas Champions Day.

Post time for Saturday, January 22 is 7:00 p.m. As a special promotion for this stellar night of racing, Sam Houston Race Park will host the $2,500 MAXXAM Gold Cup Online Handicapping Contest. The contest is open to all racing fans, 21-years of age or older, with a total of $2,500 in prizes to the top six finishers. Racing fans can enter by logging onto the Sam Houston Race Park web site, www.shrp.com with a deadline to enter at 7:00 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, January 22.