Sam Houston Race Park increases purses
Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2020 live racing season on Friday, Jan. 10, with an expanded 39-day thoroughbred meet offering more than $1.75 million in purses, up from $1.1 million last year.
House Bill 2463, passed by the 86th Texas Legislature, contributed $25 million annually to the Texas horse racing industry to be split equally between thoroughbred and quarter horse interests.
The increase means Sam Houston Race Park will offer purses of approximately $200,000 per day. Included are raised purses for maiden races to $36,000 (compared to $20,0000 last year) and at least $37,000 for allowance races (from $21,000). Purses for claiming races have been raised approximately 80 percent.
“To be first out of the gate to begin the process of improving racing in Texas is certainly an opportunity to which we look forward, said Frank Hopf, SHRP’s Senior Director of Racing Operations. “Our new purse levels and stakes program have generated interest and enthusiasm about our 2020 live racing season. These are exciting times for the Texas horse racing industry.”
In other news:
• Maxfield has been scratched from the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita because of an unspecified issue with his right front leg.
Trainer Brendan Walsh and Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, say they noticed the 2-year-old colt wasn’t himself when he went to train at Santa Anita on Tuesday.
Maxfield was the 3-1 third choice for the 1 1⁄16-mile Juvenile, the highlight of Friday’s card at the two-day world championships. Maxfield is unbeaten in two career starts, including a 5½ -length victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 5.