(January 31, 2006) - Saturday night’s feature race will be the $40,000 Jersey Village Stakes for accredited

Texas-breds on the Connally Turf course. Charming Socialite, winner of the $40,000 Buffalo Bayou Stakes last November at Sam Houston Race Park, is a definite starter, according to trainer Bill Pettit. The versatile 5-year-old has won 9 of his 34 career starts including the $125,000 Assault Stakes on July 9 at Lone Star Park.

Agrivating General from the barn of Danny Pish and Oncearoundtwice, trained by John Locke, are two of the other nominees for the Jersey Village. The draw will take place on Wednesday, February 1.

February Racing at Sam Houston Race Park

Live racing will take place just two days this week: Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4. There will be no live racing on Sunday, February 5 due to the Super Bowl.

Sam Houston Race Park will continue to offer its patrons free admission for simulcast wagering and $1 beer. The ever-so popular $1 pony beers will also be offered during live racing, and all those visiting the park before gates open for live racing will enjoy the free admission. Admission for live racing will return to just $3 starting Friday, February 3.

For more information, visit www.shrp.com or call 281-807-8760.

Super Bowl Sunday at Sam Houston Race Park

The Sam Houston Race Park Jockey Club will host a Super Bowl XL Party on Sunday, February 5. Guests will enjoy a spectacular Tailgating Football Buffet offered from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The buffet will feature tailgating specialties such as Hot Dogs with all the fixings, Buffalo Wings, Chicken Tenders, Jalapeno Poppers and Nachos with Chili Con Queso. The festive buffet and the perfect environment for watching the game on the many big screens is offered for just $14.95 per person. In addition, $1 Pony Beers will be available including Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite! The Sam Houston Race Park Jockey Club will be open all afternoon for simulcasting and every minute of Super Bowl XL. Reservations are highly recommended and may be made by calling 281-807-8709.

Team Sam Houston Race Park Captures the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship

Congratulations to Team Sam Houston Race Park, winners of the team competition in the $500,000 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. Robert Chandler of Texas City, Matthew Martin of Katy and Steve Wolfson of Ormand Beach, Florida were the top three finishers of the Sam Houston qualifier held last October. The three represented Sam Houston Race Park in this weekend's final tournament held at Bally's -Las Vegas and defeated over 70 teams from racetracks and simulcast facilities across the country. Top prize for the winning team in the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship was $15,000.

Jockey Iram Diego Out with a Broken Arm

Rider Iram Diego suffered a broken arm in a spill on Friday, January 27 at Sam Houston Race Park. Diego was aboard first-time starter, Princeofthestorm in Friday’s third race. His mount stumbled and Diego fell and was transported to Cy-Fair Hospital.

His agent, Larry Spraker reported that Diego underwent surgery on Saturday, January 28 to repair the break in his left arm. He was discharged from the hospital today and will probably be sidelined for the remainder of the 2005/2006 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting.

Jockey, Trainer and Owner Standings

Larry Taylor is still at the top of his game this Thoroughbred meeting. Taylor has a total of 45 wins and $383,884 in earnings. Glen Murphy is ranked second with 43 wins, but has the highest earnings of $391,289 after capturing the $30,000 Bucharest Stakes last Saturday evening aboard Slick City Nites for trainer Steve Asmussen. Filemon Rodriguez maintains his third place standing with 36 victories and Quincy Hamilton follows with 35 wins. Hamilton had an impressive week, winning six races over the weekend. Justin Shepherd’s win aboard Im A Slew Too paid $19.40 on Friday, January 27 contributed to the $405.20 late daily double, the highest this meeting. Shepherd rounds out the top five jockeys with 22 wins.

Danny Pish did not saddle any winners over the weekend, but still remains at the top of the standings with 28 wins and $330,495 in earnings. Steve Asmussen follows Pish with 26 victories. Asmussen added $18,000 to his earnings after Slick City Nites captured the $30,000 Bucharest Stakes. W. Bret Calhoun had three winners last weekend and concluded the week with 24 wins, and John Locke watched his four winners cross the finish line and ends the week with 22 victories. Andy Konkoly still has 19 wins and rounds out the top five trainers.

Jim Bausch remains in the lead in the owner standings with eight wins and $62,430 in earnings, while Anjo Racing, Inc. and Shrum Racing, Inc. are tied with seven wins, and Israel Flores has six.

Grade 1 Donn Handicap to be Simulcast this Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park will simulcast the $500,000 Donn Handicap and five other graded-stakes races from Gulfstream Park on Saturday, February 4. Magna Graduate, Suave, Andromeda’s Hero and Brass Hat, winner of the New Orleans Handicap (G2) are probables for the Grade 1 Donn.

First Samurai, considered one of the best Kentucky Derby hopefuls, returns to action in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes. Barbaro and Barbican are among the leading probable starters for the $150,000 Holy Bull. The other stakes include the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (G3) at 6½ furlongs and $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at nine furlongs, both for 3-year-old fillies, and the $100,000 Suwannee River Handicap (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

For more information on simulcasting schedules and post times, visit the Sam Houston Race Park web site at www.shrp.com or call 281-807-8760.

Week-Four Winners Announced in Best Country Singer in Houston

Sam Houston Race Park’s search for local talent with the Best Country Singer in Houston contest is underway and continues to attract a legion of enthusiastic fans each Friday night.

There are two divisions for the competition, one for singers age 9-15 and an adult division for performers 16 years old and up. Each contestant performs one song with the finalists to be awarded cash prizes and a professional recording session. The weekly top performers will be announced each Monday on 93Q KKBQ and will be invited to compete in the finals on Friday, February 17.

Last week’s winners are as follows:

Junior Division:
Courtney Cole of Kennard
Sienna Watson of Friendswood
Shayne Cunningham of Cleveland
Meagan Holmes of Friendswood

Adult Division:
Kristi Greenwood
Melody Behrens of Houston
Denny Graham of Houston
Heather Holderrieth of Pinehurst

Following the final judgment on February 17, prizes will be awarded for each division. The best performer in the junior division will receive $1,000 and the second and third place contestant will receive $250 and $100, respectively. The best performer in the adult division will not only receive $1,000, but will also be awarded a trip to the Academy of Country Music Awards. The trip will include airfare and a two-night’s stay in a hotel for two. The winner will also receive four tickets to a special Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with the provided transportation of a limousine and a chance to showcase their vocal talent in the 93Q Barbeque Tent during the cook-off. The second place performer will receive $250 and the third place contest will receive $100.

For more information or to sign-up for the Best Country Singer in Houston contest, visit the Sam Houston Race Park web site, www.shrp.com.

Love Me Dew Eligible for Arabian Racing Cup’s Triple Crown

After capturing the $100,000 Daughters of the Desert Oaks at Los Alamitos last Saturday, Love Me Dew, a 4-year-old Arabian filly, is eligible for the fillies’ division of the Arabian Racing Cup’s Triple Crown.

Love Me Dew, owned by Darla Ripley of Dallas, is now a two-time stakes winner, winning her first stakes, the Texas Arabian Lone Star Futurity, at Sam Houston Race Park last December. Gregorio Rivera was the rider for both winning trips for trainer Lynnette Hershbell

Love Me Dew earned $42,000 for the win, which now makes her eligible for the filly division of the Arabian Racing Cup's Triple Crown series. The second leg is the Texas Yellow Rose on March 25 at Sam Houston Race Park with the CRE Run Oaks at Delaware Park the final leg.