Sam Houston Race Park is a horse

racing track A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also use ...

located in

unincorporated Unincorporated may refer to: * Unincorporated area, land not governed by a local municipality * Unincorporated entity, a type of organization * Unincorporated territories of the United States, territories under U.S. jurisdiction, to which Congress ...

northwest

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The park hosts both

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

and

American Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...

racing each year. The track strives to be a multi-purpose venue, hosting many festivals and events during its off seasons.

History

Sam Houston opened on April 24, 1994, and was the first Class 1 Horse Racing venue constructed in Texas. It cost approximately $90 million to construct. The Park is considered the fastest growing race track in America based on handle growth and quality of racing program over the past year several years. The Park is named for

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played an important role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two i ...

who was an influential general and later president of the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston bought Valley Race Park, a greyhound track in Harlingen, in 2000. Sam Houston Race Park's largest attendance was recorded on July 4, 2008 with an attendance of 32,177. In August 2017 Sam Houston opened its doors to the equine victims of Hurricane Harvey. The facility made it through the disaster with little damage and flooding, so they offered refuge to over 200 displaced horses in the Houston area. Their racing barns were empty at the time due to the live racing season having already ended for the year. Sam Houston Race Park Paddock

Races at Sam Houston

The race track hosts two live race meets annually.

Thoroughbred horse racing Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in t ...

runs from January through early April.

races are held from late April through early June. The rest of the year the Park is open for

simulcast Simulcast (a portmanteau of simultaneous broadcast) is the broadcasting of programmes/programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultane ...

racing around the world. The races run the gambit of maiden special weights and claiming to graded stakes and handicaps. Among many others, these are the races Sam Houston Race Park holds each year along with their purses:

Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...

Open: * $100,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G2) 2YO - 330 Yds * $95,000 B.O.A. TX Challenge Championship (G2) 3 & Up - 440 Yds * $50,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) 3 & Up - 440 Yds * $35,000 Sam Houston Derby (G3) 3YO - 350 Yds * $35,000 John Deere TX Juvenile Challenge (G3) 2YO - 350 Yds * $35,000 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge 3YO - 400 Yds * $25,000 Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes 2YO - 330 Yds * $25,000 Governor's Cup Marathon 3 & Up - 870 Yds * $20,000 Harris County Stakes 3 & Up - 550 Yds Sam Houston Race Park (2014)

Filly/Mare: * $20,000 Miss Sam Houston Stakes F/M 3 & Up - 330 Yds * $22,000 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge F/M 3 & Up - 400 Yds

American Paint Horse The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern of white and dark coat colors. Developed from a base of spotted horses with Quarter Horse ...

* $15,000 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity (G2) 3 & Up - 350 Yds * $15,000 Colors of Houston Paint Juvenile 2YO 300 - Yds

Open: * $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3) 4 & Up * $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile 3YO * $75,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint 4 & Up * $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup 4 & Up * $50,000 Houston Turf Stakes 4 & Up (T) * $50,000 Bucharest Turf Sprint 4 & Up (T) * $50,000 Groovy Stakes 3YO * $50,000 Space City Stakes 3YO * $50,000 Richard King Turf Stakes 4 & Up (T) * $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes 4 & Up * $50,000 Star of Texas Stakes 4 & Up * $45,000 Texas Heritage Stakes 3YO (T) * $45,000 Jersey Village Stakes 4 & Up (T) * $30,000 Allen's Landing Stakes 3YO Sam Houston Race Park Winner's Circle

Colt/Gelding: * $75,000 Jim's Orbit Stakes 3YO Filly/Mare: * $400,000

Houston Ladies Classic The Houston Ladies Classic Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age four and older over a distance of one and aon-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in late January at Sam Houston Race Park in ...

(G3) F/M 4 & Up (inaugurated in 2013) * $75,000 Two Altazano Stakes F 3YO * $50,000 Houston Distaff F/M 4 & Up (T) * $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes F/M 4 & Up (T) * $50,000 San Jacinto Turf Stakes F/M 4 & Up * $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes F 3YO * $45,000 Tomball Stakes F/M 4 & Up (T) Discontinued: * $75,000 Martanza Stakes F 3YO * $45,000 Mission Stakes F/M 4 & Up * $45,000 Sam Houston Oaks F 3YO * $45,000 Fort Bend Country Stakes 3YO * $45,000 Spring Stakes 3YO * $25,000 Texans Juvenile Stakes 2YO * $25,000 Buffalo Bayou Stakes 4 & Up Sam Houston Race Park Finish Line

Arabian The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate. ...

Open: * $45,000 Amethyst Jewel (G1) 4 & Up - 7 F Colt/Gelding: * $30,000 Texas Six Shooter (G2) C/G 4 & Up - 7 F Filly/Mare: * $38,500 Sheikha Mubarack LWC F/M 4 & Up 7 F * $30,000 Texas Yellow Rose (G2) F/M 4 & Up - 7 F

Amenities

Along with the 1-mile dirt track and 7-furlong turf course for the horses, Sam Houston Race Park offers 8 bars, 2 restaurants, Grandstand luxury suites: San Jacinto Suite, Celebration Suite, Director's Suite, Sam Houston Suite, and numerous House Suites. The park contains many concession areas on the Paddock and Club levels.

Events

Concerts

Sam Houston Race Park hosts many concerts throughout each year. Each year the park hosts the ZiegenBock Music Festival, a smaller version of the

Lone Star State Jam The Lone Star Jam is an annual country music festival held in Austin, Texas. The event is produced by 415 Productions, an Austin-based company that coordinates and promotes many events in central Texas. Bud Light is the presenting sponsor each y ...

held in

Austin, TX Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

. A compilation of

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

's finest artists and many of the up-and-coming start of Texas country music brings thousands out to Sam Houston Race Park each year for the festival. The strong history of concerts at Sam Houston Race Park includes names such as Gary Allan, the

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

nominated Eli Young Band, Randy Rogers Band,

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of ''Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (197 ...

Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Ju ...

, and international acts such as Hadiqa Kiani along with many more. Anthony Raneri (3687413162)

Dog Day at the Track

One of the many light hearted events is the annual Wiener Dog Races, a family friendly event. Several Wiener Dog races are held throughout the day in between the live horse races. This event is usually held in March.

Annual Food Truck Festival

A new addition to the park's list of events is the Annual Food Truck Festival which brings together many small business for a day of food and games for families. The food spans several cultures including; Mexican, Cajun, Italian, Greek, Americana, and many more. There is also dessert truck and a craft beer tasting from local breweries available.

Guitars N' Cars Auto Show

Guitars N' Cars Auto Show, presented by the Houston Construction Industry Charities (hosted by Sam Houston Race Park), is an annual car show with live music, food, and guitar vendors. All proceeds from Guitars N' Cars auto show go to help the Houston US Vets program to honor the veterans of Houston.

Camel & Ostrich Races

The annual Camel & Ostrich Races have become a fan favorite, normally held on a Friday and Saturday evening in early March during the Thoroughbred Meet. One race with Ostriches and one race with Camels are held between live horse races on each night. Both Ostriches and Camels carry riders during their races. There is no wagering permitted by law on the Wieners, Camels or Ostriches.

Gallery

South Entrance Sam Houston Race Park.jpg, South Entrance North entrance Sam Houston Race Park.jpg, North entrance Sam Houston Race Park Paddock2.jpg, Paddock with horses getting ready for the next race Sam Houston Race Park Paddock6.jpg, Horses parading in the paddock Sam Houston Race Park Starting Gate.jpg, Starting Gate

References

External links

{{Commons category
Sam Houston Race Park Official WebsiteSam Houston Race Park at American Quarter Horse Racing
*Harris County Block Book Maps **Section 1
JPGPDF
**Section 2
JPGPDF
Horse racing venues in Texas Sports venues in Harris County, Texas Sports venues in Houston