Purses soar, new stables arrive

The Texas racing industry moves into a new period of prosperity Friday night with the start of the meet at Sam Houston Race Park.

The Houston track will race 46 dates through April 3. Spectators will be allowed.

Sam Houston is opening with its richest purse structure in close to two decades, while its stable area has drawn outfits from as far away as California. The stakes program has been boosted to $2.4 million – more than double its $1.1 million level in 2019.

The Texas resurgence comes following passage of a 2019 law that sets aside a portion of taxes on select equine goods and services for the betterment of the state’s breeding and racing industry. The largest percentage of funds are tabbed for purses. The first round of increases came in 2020.

“Obviously, the tracks here have done what they can to build upon that and make sure this continues in a positive light, make sure that Texas racing grows – not just for each individual track, but for the racing program here in Texas as a whole,” said Frank Hopf, senior director of racing operations for Sam Houston.

Hopf said Sam Houston will open with average daily purses of more than $250,000. That’s up from $230,000 a year ago – when the track raced fewer dates – and $133,000 in 2019. Hopf said this meet’s purses are the highest he’s seen in his more than 18 years at Sam Houston.

The structure has drawn an array of new horsemen, including divisions from trainers Frank Lucarelli and Jonathan Wong in California, Todd Fincher from New Mexico, and Michael Stidham from the East Coast. They join regulars Steve Asmussen, Karl Broberg, Bret Calhoun, Robertino Diodoro, and Mindy Willis. The riding colony’s new faces include Sophie Doyle, Stewart Elliott, and Reylu Gutierrez.

Hopf said Sam Houston has worked toward a balanced backstretch, which will be the winter home of the promising 3-year-old Senor Buscador and Breeders’ Cup Sprint alum Empire of Gold.

“We’re starting to see trainers come from the West Coast, from the Kentucky region, and so there’s been a lot more interest coming our way,” Hopf said. “Obviously, the goal is to put together a strong, diverse type of product from a handicapping standpoint – that we try to make a good mix. We want to take care of those who have supported our racing product for so many years and also bring in new outfits and build that circuit here in Texas – just overall making it a positive situation for racing down here.”

Sam Houston is set to run Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and will add Wednesday cards Feb. 10 as it has picked up seven dates from Retama Park. First post will be 6:45 p.m. Central on Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

There will be a special Sunday card for the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 31. The meet’s richest race will be part of a program of six stakes worth a cumulative $950,000. The program includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles and the $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds. First post is 1:45 p.m.

Hopf said Sam Houston will again offer a reduced, 12 percent takeout on multi-leg wagers. The track’s 20-cent jackpot pick six, the Space City, will have a carryover of $51,876 into Friday night due to the cancellation of the final card of the meet in 2020. There will be a mandatory payout of the jackpot pick six Saturday night. Hopf said next Thursday, Jan. 14, the Space City will become a traditional pick six with a 50-cent minimum and 12 percent takeout.

Sam Houston has drawn 10 races for Friday and Saturday, and the average field size is more than 9.5 horses.