Sam Houston boasts handle, attendance increases

The 2012 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting concluded on March 12

with a 35 percent increase in live handle and a 40 percent spike in daily

average attendance.

The 31-day racing season began on January 20 when a record crowd attended the

track's opening night and the positive momentum continued throughout the meet.

This was the second year that Sam Houston Race Park held a shortened live racing

season. With the modification in format, daily purses exceeded $162,000 and were

the highest per day since the track opened in 1994.

Key race dates included Texas Champions Weekend which for the first time ever

extended over two dates -- January 20 and 21 -- with seven stakes for accredited

Texas-breds. The Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup followed one week later and

the $150,000 Maxxam Gold Cup took place on March 3.

Throughout the

meet, a comprehensive wagering menu was offered including rolling Pick 3's with

a 12 percent takeout and 50 cent trifecta, superfecta and Pick 3's. A new wager,

the Houston-High Five was introduced this meet and its carryover was very

popular with race fans. Total handle surpassed the $1 million mark in each of

the 31 race dates.

Park management cited two notable additions to the schedule that had a

positive impact on attendance and wagering in 2012. Texas Champions Day, with

seven stakes for accredited Texas-breds, was revised as Texas Champions Weekend

with fillies on Friday night and colt and gelding stakes on Saturday evening. A

record opening night crowd of 12,256 welcomed back live racing on January 20. Sam Houston

also hosted Camel and

Ostrich racing for the first time in its history. Despite inclement weather,

12,389 fans were on hand on March 10 to take in the wild entertainment

and track officials are already making plans for its return in 2013.

"We are very pleased with the positive gains during the 2012 Thoroughbred

meet," said Andrea Young, Sam Houston Race Park's president. "Our feedback from

both horsemen and fans has been excellent. Many of our promotions had a

significant impact on attendance and created a great buzz on Friday and Saturday

nights. This was an incredible start to the year."

The field size averaged 8.7 starters versus 8.5

in each race throughout the 2011 racing season.

"We felt that we offered our most competitive racing program ever given our

increases in the daily purse structure and our stakes schedule during the 2012

Thoroughbred meet," said Eric Johnston, vice president of racing. "Our horsemen

continue to praise Sam Houston Race Park on the quality and safety of both of

our track surfaces."

KEY STATS		2012		2011
Number of Live Race Days		31		26
Total Live Handle		$3.7mm		$2.7mm
Average Daily Live Handle		$120,161		$105,280
Average Daily Purses		$162,061		$159,508
Average Field Size		8.7		8.5

2012 THOROUGHBRED AWARD RECIPIENTS

Horse of the Meeting		Coyote Legend
Leading Owner		Steve Asmussen
Leading Trainer		Karl Broberg
Leading Jockey		Glen Murphy

Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2012 live American Quarter Horse meet

on March 22. The 27-day racing season will run through May

19 with races every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For the full calendar of Sam

Houston Race Park's 2012 live race dates, please visit

shrp.com.