State’s richest race worth the chase

Sam Houston Race Park opens its quarter horse season Friday night with most owners and trainers focused on the main event.

That is the April 29 Sam Houston Futurity, typically the state’s richest horse race. This year’s purse will be $485,300. And those owners and trainers have every right to chase the Futurity dollars. It’s their money.

Starting Dec. 15, each owner or trainer had to submit a $200 nomination fee for a prospective entry. Subsequent payments of $400 and $600 by Jan. 16 and Feb. 15, respectively, sustained a horse’s eligibility. A final payment of $800 qualified the horse for a series of socalled trial races that led to a spot in the Futurity.

Those waiting until Feb. 15 to nominate a runner would have to add a $1,000 penalty to the $1,200 in fees paid by others.

Matt Crawford, SHRP’s racing secretary, said trainers and owners put up $257,800 in the four monthly payments plus $127,500 in additional fees. The track added $100,000 to the purse.

The final eligibility count was 151 horses. Judd Kearl, a dominant trainer through years, entered the most runners — 21..

The meet’s start times are 7 p.m. Fridays, 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon on Mondays. On May 5 and May 20, Saturday start times will advance to 1 p.m. to accommodate Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes crowds.

May 22 is closing day.

Hal Lundgren is a freelance writer.